Evaluation of the simulation capability of the Wavewatch Ⅲ model for Pacific Ocean wave

作     者：BI Fan SONG Jinbao WU Kejian XU Yao 

作者机构：Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and WavesInstitute of OceanologyChinese Academy of Sciences College of Physical and Environmental OceanographyOcean University of China Ocean CollegeZhejiang University Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography (Ocean University of China)Ministry of Education 

出 版 物：《Acta Oceanologica Sinica》 (海洋学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2015年第34卷第9期

页      面：43-57页

核心收录：

学科分类：07[理学] 0707[理学-海洋科学] 

基　　金：The National High Technology Research and Development Program(863 Program) of China under contract No.2013AA122803 the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences under contract No.XDA11010104 

主　　题：Wavewatch III evaluation Pacific Ocean source and sink term packages wave-induced flux Stokes transport 

摘      要：Wave climate analysis and other applications for the Pacific Ocean require a reliable wave hindcast. Five source and sink term packages in the Wavewatch III model （v3.14 and v4.18） are compared and assessed in this study through comprehensive observations, including altimeter significant wave height, advanced synthetic aperture radar swell, and buoy wave parameters and spectrum. In addition to the evaluation of typically used integral parameters, the spectra partitioning method contributes to the detailed wave system and wave maturity validation. The modified performance evaluation method （PS） effectively reduces attribute numbers and facilitates the overall assessment. To avoid possible misleading results in the root mean square error-based validations, another indicator called HH （indicating the two authors） is also calculated to guarantee the consistency of the results. The widely used Tolman and Chalikov （TC） package is still generally efficient in determining the integral properties of wave spectra but is physically deficient in explaining the dissipation processes. The ST4 package performs well in overall wave parameters and significantly improves the accuracy of wave systems in the open ocean. Meanwhile, the newly published ST6 package is slightly better in determining swell energy variations. The two packages （ACC350 and BIA） obtained from Wavewatch III v3.14 exhibit large scatters at different sea states. The three most ideal packages are further examined in terms of reproducing wave- induced momentum flux from the perspective of transport. Stokes transport analysis indicates that ST4 is the closest to the NDBC-buoy-spectrum-based transport values, and TC and ST6 tend to overestimate and underestimate the transport magnitude, respectively, in swell mixed areas. This difference must be considered, particularly in air-wave-current coupling research and upper ocean analysis. The assessment results provide guidance for the selection of ST4 for use in a backgrou