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Modeling North Atlantic Nor'easters With Modern Wave Forecast Models
Author(s) -
Perrie Will,
Toulany Bechara,
Roland Aron,
DutourSikiric Mathieu,
Chen Changsheng,
Beardsley Robert C.,
Qi Jianhua,
Hu Yongcun,
Casey Michael P.,
Shen Hui
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9291
pISSN - 2169-9275
DOI - 10.1002/2017jc012868
Subject(s) - storm , middle latitudes , meteorology , wave model , climatology , wind wave , grid , environmental science , significant wave height , geology , physics , oceanography , geodesy
Three state‐of‐the‐art operational wave forecast model systems are implemented on fine‐resolution grids for the Northwest Atlantic. These models are: (1) a composite model system consisting of SWAN implemented within WAVEWATCHIII ® (the latter is hereafter, WW3) on a nested system of traditional structured grids, (2) an unstructured grid finite‐volume wave model denoted “SWAVE,” using SWAN physics, and (3) an unstructured grid finite element wind wave model denoted as “WWM” (for “wind wave model”) which uses WW3 physics. Models are implemented on grid systems that include relatively large domains to capture the wave energy generated by the storms, as well as including fine‐resolution nearshore regions of the southern Gulf of Maine with resolution on the scale of 25 m to simulate areas where inundation and coastal damage have occurred, due to the storms. Storm cases include three intense midlatitude cases: a spring Nor'easter storm in May 2005, the Patriot's Day storm in 2007, and the Boxing Day storm in 2010. Although these wave model systems have comparable overall properties in terms of their performance and skill, it is found that there are differences. Models that use more advanced physics, as presented in recent versions of WW3, tuned to regional characteristics, as in the Gulf of Maine and the Northwest Atlantic, can give enhanced results.