The GeoResources Institute (GRI) specializes in extracting and simulating information from geospatial data. An important tool in this research is scientific modeling. Modeling is a generic term for a variety of mathematical techniques for studying data either to understand a dataset or predict a future event. Model categories include: 1) empirical models; 2) probability models; 3) analytical models; 4) idealized models; and 5) hydrodynamic models.

GRI utilizes all these modeling tools to study the geosciences. For example, Fitzpatrick (1997) developed a multiple regression algorithm (an empirical scheme) which predicts typhoon intensity based on water temperature, wind shear, satellite pixel counts, climatology, and persistence. New analytical solutions have also been derived for ocean wave growth in changing wind conditions (Sajjadi 2002). However, GRI's primary work involves hydrodynamic modeling. GRI has developed a unique suite of hydrodynamic models for the ocean and the atmosphere. These include:

• COAMPS - A model, developed and used by the Navy, for simulating and predicting the weather, with state-of-the-art data assimilation schemes and targeted for the maritime environment. MSU is one of the very few universities to use this model.
• MM5 - Another weather model developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO, and very popular in the research community. It will be upgraded soon to the WRF model, which the National Weather Service will adopt.
• Wavewatch - A model, developed by NOAA, which predicts ocean waves
• WindWave - A model, developed by Great Britain, which predicts waves on inland lakes.
• ADCIRC - A model, developed by Notre Dame and the Army Corps of Engineers, for predicting the hurricane storm surge and ocean currents.
• MBAR - MSU's barotropic model, a simplified model used to predict the future locations of troughs and ridges.

Typically, these models are run separately, with static information from other fields as input. For example, typically an ocean model uses wind forecasts from a separately run weather model. In reality, the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere are very important, and the two models should be run concurrently. A tool, called the Model Coupling Executable Library (MCEL) has been developed at MSU so that two models can run simultaneously while passing ocean and wave information between each other.

GRI's unique suite of atmosphere and ocean models, combined with the powerful computer resources at Stennis Space Center (such as NAVOCEANO's Major Shared Resource Center) and MSU's Engineering Research Center, places GRI at the cutting edge of hydrodynamic modeling.