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 good quality wave estimates globally since the mid-1980s. 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 European waters. 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.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 536426
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, Vol. 119, Issue 3; Other Information: DN: Paper presented at the 15. international symposium and exhibit on offshore mechanics and arctic engineering, June 16--20, 1996, Florence (IT); PBD: Aug 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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