Cristina Forbes, Ph.D.
Oceanographer
USCG Office of Search and Rescue
Friday, September 11, 2026, 3:10 p.m.
Chase 105
** Please Note: This talk was not recorded. **
ABSTRACT
Search and rescue (SAR) programs and planning tools involve the use of surface currents and winds to perform drift simulations to determine the approximate location of the distressed persons lost at sea.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) employs the Search And Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) for drift modeling and search planning. SAROPS accesses an extensive number of ocean and atmospheric forecast models from multiple sources to perform Monte Carlo-type simulations and establish search areas. It generates time evolving probability maps of the most likely location of the endangered individuals and combines them with the availability of search units (i.e., helicopters, etc.) to produce operationally feasible search plans that maximize the probability of detection.
This presentation will provide details on SAROPS environmental forecast models employed to perform drift simulations, models’ requirements, SAR applications, challenges and potential future improvements that can benefit the USCG SAR mission.
BIO
Dr. Cristina Forbes is the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Office of Search and Rescue oceanographer. She received her Ph.D. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the University of Miami. Through her career she has worked in academia, private companies and government agencies developing algorithms in atmospheric, ocean and storm surge numerical prediction models, processing large geophysical datasets, performing statistical analysis, and model verifications. For the past years, she has applied her expertise, knowledge and skills to support several aspects of the USCG search and rescue (SAR) program. She works with national and international government agencies, institutions and universities to improve SAR and serves as Advisory Board Member and Scientific Evaluation Contributor in various oceanographic and meteorological projects for the benefit of the USCG SAR mission.
