Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical Cyclone

The impact of the high space-temporal variability of the wind field during the moderate and intense storm stages of a tropical cyclone on the wave field as computed by the numerical model WaveWatch III is investigated in this work. The realistic wind fields are generated by a high-resolution impleme...

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Main Authors: Laura Pérez-Sampablo, Pedro Osuna, Bernardo Esquivel-Trava, Nicolas Rascle, Francisco J. Ocampo-Torres
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Oceans
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/4/1/8
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author Laura Pérez-Sampablo
Pedro Osuna
Bernardo Esquivel-Trava
Nicolas Rascle
Francisco J. Ocampo-Torres
author_facet Laura Pérez-Sampablo
Pedro Osuna
Bernardo Esquivel-Trava
Nicolas Rascle
Francisco J. Ocampo-Torres
author_sort Laura Pérez-Sampablo
collection DOAJ
description The impact of the high space-temporal variability of the wind field during the moderate and intense storm stages of a tropical cyclone on the wave field as computed by the numerical model WaveWatch III is investigated in this work. The realistic wind fields are generated by a high-resolution implementation of the HWRF model in the Gulf of Mexico and stored over 15 min intervals. The spatial structure of the wind field computed by HWRF is highly variable in space and time, although its mean structure is very similar to that described for parametric hurricanes already specified in the previous studies. The resulting storm-generated wave fields have a persistent structure, with wave maxima present in the forward quadrants of the storm and in the rear quadrant II. This structure is determined by the strong winds and the extended fetch condition in quadrants I and II, as well as by the translation speed of the storm. When a shorter time interval is analyzed (e.g., a 3 h period, when the storm becomes a category 1 hurricane), the structure of the mean wind field may differ greatly from the mean field calculated with a sufficiently longer period; however, the spatial distribution of the wave field around the hurricane tends to maintain its typical spatial structure. The use of wind fields with reduced time variability (e.g., with a 3 h moving average) does not change the structure of the mean wave field, but reduces the mean wave height values by up to 10%.
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spelling doaj.art-a929bd7cdda0438e97f7a04eedd3a5422023-11-17T13:07:31ZengMDPI AGOceans2673-19242023-03-01419211310.3390/oceans4010008Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical CycloneLaura Pérez-Sampablo0Pedro Osuna1Bernardo Esquivel-Trava2Nicolas Rascle3Francisco J. Ocampo-Torres4Departamento de Oceanografía Física, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada 22860, MexicoDepartamento de Oceanografía Física, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada 22860, MexicoDepartamento de Oceanografía Física, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada 22860, MexicoDepartamento de Oceanografía Física, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada 22860, MexicoCEMIE-Océano, C.U., Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, MexicoThe impact of the high space-temporal variability of the wind field during the moderate and intense storm stages of a tropical cyclone on the wave field as computed by the numerical model WaveWatch III is investigated in this work. The realistic wind fields are generated by a high-resolution implementation of the HWRF model in the Gulf of Mexico and stored over 15 min intervals. The spatial structure of the wind field computed by HWRF is highly variable in space and time, although its mean structure is very similar to that described for parametric hurricanes already specified in the previous studies. The resulting storm-generated wave fields have a persistent structure, with wave maxima present in the forward quadrants of the storm and in the rear quadrant II. This structure is determined by the strong winds and the extended fetch condition in quadrants I and II, as well as by the translation speed of the storm. When a shorter time interval is analyzed (e.g., a 3 h period, when the storm becomes a category 1 hurricane), the structure of the mean wind field may differ greatly from the mean field calculated with a sufficiently longer period; however, the spatial distribution of the wave field around the hurricane tends to maintain its typical spatial structure. The use of wind fields with reduced time variability (e.g., with a 3 h moving average) does not change the structure of the mean wave field, but reduces the mean wave height values by up to 10%.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/4/1/8wave field during tropical cyclonespatio-temporal variability of wind fieldHWRF modelWaveWatch III wave model
spellingShingle Laura Pérez-Sampablo
Pedro Osuna
Bernardo Esquivel-Trava
Nicolas Rascle
Francisco J. Ocampo-Torres
Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical Cyclone
Oceans
wave field during tropical cyclone
spatio-temporal variability of wind field
HWRF model
WaveWatch III wave model
title Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical Cyclone
title_full Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical Cyclone
title_fullStr Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical Cyclone
title_full_unstemmed Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical Cyclone
title_short Sensitivity of the Wave Field to High Time-Space Resolution Winds during a Tropical Cyclone
title_sort sensitivity of the wave field to high time space resolution winds during a tropical cyclone
topic wave field during tropical cyclone
spatio-temporal variability of wind field
HWRF model
WaveWatch III wave model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1924/4/1/8
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