Comparative Study Of Performance Of Wind Wave Model: WAVEWATCH-Modified By New Source Function

TL;DR

This study evaluates a modified version of the WAVEWATCH-III model incorporating a new source function, demonstrating improved accuracy and faster computation in simulating wind wave parameters across multiple oceanic regions.

Contribution

The paper introduces a modified WAVEWATCH-III model with a new source function and validates its enhanced performance against buoy data, showing significant accuracy improvements.

Findings

20-50% increase in simulation accuracy for significant wave height

15% faster computation speed

Effective validation across multiple oceanic regions

Abstract

With the aim of assessing the merits of the new source function proposed earlier in Polnikov (2005),it was tested and validated by means of the modification of the well known model WAVEWATCH-III. Assessment was done on the basis of comparing the wave simulation results found from both models against the buoy data obtained in three oceanic regions: eastern and western parts of the North Atlantic, and the Barenz Sea. First of all, incorporation of the new source function into the numerical codes of WAVEWATCH was done, and this modified version of WAVEWATCH was fitted and tested by standard tests. On the basis of these results some physical conclusions were drawn. Then, sophisticated fitting of the modified model was carried out, using the observation data of 19 buoys obtained in two regions of the North Atlantic for a period of 30 days at 1-hour time intervals. After this, the standard validation of both models was continued on the basis of the 8-month historical data, corresponding to 12 buoys located in the western part of the North Atlantic. Finally, comparative validation of the models was done against the wave observations obtained at one buoy in the Barenz Sea for a period of 3 years at 6-hour time intervals. Estimations of simulation accuracy were carried out for the three parameters of wind waves: significant wave height, Hs , peak wave period, Tp , and mean wave period, Tm. Comparative analysis of these estimations was carried out for the original and modified model WAVEWATCH. The advantage of the modified model was revealed, with an increase of simulation accuracy for Hs by 20 to 50% for more than 70% of the buoys considered. Additionally, it was found that the speed of calculation was increased by 15%. Keywords: wind waves, numerical model, buoy data, fitting of numerical model, verification.