Use of numerical wind-wave models for assessment of the offshore wave energy resource
- INETI-ITE, Lisbon (Portugal)
- OCEANOR S.A., Trondheim (Norway)
- ISDGM, Venice (Italy)
- Inst. de Meteorologia, Lisbon (Portugal)
In the last two decades the performance of numerical wind-wave models has improved considerably. Several models have been routinely producing since the mid 1980`s good quality wave estimates globally. The verifications of wind-wave models have mainly focused on the evaluation of the error of the significant wave height H{sub s} estimates. However for wave energy purposes the main parameters to be assessed are the wave power P{sub w} and the mean (energy) period T{sub e}. Since P{sub w} is proportional to H{sub s}{sup 2}T{sub e}, its expected error is much larger than for the single wave parameters. This paper summarizes the intercomparison of two wind-wave models against buoy data in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea to select the most suitable one for the construction of an Atlas of the wave energy resource in Europe. A full verification in the two basins of the selected model--the WAM model, implemented in the routine operation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts--was then performed against buoy and satellite altimeter data. It was found that the WAM model accuracy is very good for offshore locations in the North Atlantic, but for the Mediterranean Sea the results are much less accurate probably due to a lower quality of the input wind fields.
- OSTI ID:
- 449729
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9606279-; ISBN 0-7918-1490-4; TRN: IM9714%%286
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 14. international conference on offshore mechanics arctic engineering (OMAE), Florence (Italy), 16-20 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 15. international conference on offshore mechanics and arctic engineering -- OMAE 1996. Volume 1, Part B: Offshore technology; Chakrabarti, S.K. [ed.] [Chicago Bridge and Iron Technical Services Co., Plainfield, IL (United States)]; Pontes, M.T. [ed.] [Inst. Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial, Lisbon (Portugal)]; Maeda, Hisaaki [ed.] [Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)]; Falzarano, J. [ed.] [Univ. of New Orleans, LA (United States)]; Schofield, P. [ed.] [W.S. Atkins, Surrey (United Kingdom)]; Morrison, D. [ed.] [Shell E and P Technology Co., Houston, TX (United States)]; PB: 484 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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