An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea
The coupling of models is a commonly used approach when addressing the complex interactions between different components of earth systems. We demonstrate that this approach can result in a reduction of errors in wave forecasting, especially in dynamically complicated coastal ocean areas, such as the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | http://www.ocean-sci.net/13/289/2017/os-13-289-2017.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818034378130849792 |
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| author | K. Wahle J. Staneva W. Koch L. Fenoglio-Marc H. T. M. Ho-Hagemann E. V. Stanev |
| author_facet | K. Wahle J. Staneva W. Koch L. Fenoglio-Marc H. T. M. Ho-Hagemann E. V. Stanev |
| author_sort | K. Wahle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The coupling of models is a commonly used approach when addressing the
complex interactions between different components of earth systems. We
demonstrate that this approach can result in a reduction of errors in wave
forecasting, especially in dynamically complicated coastal ocean areas, such
as the southern part of the North Sea – the German Bight. Here, we study the effects of coupling of an atmospheric model (COSMO) and a wind wave
model (WAM), which is enabled by implementing wave-induced drag in the
atmospheric model. The numerical simulations use a regional North Sea coupled
wave–atmosphere model as well as a nested-grid high-resolution German Bight wave model. Using one atmospheric and two wind wave models simultaneously
allows for study of the individual and combined effects of two-way coupling
and grid resolution. This approach proved to be particularly important under
severe storm conditions as the German Bight is a very shallow and dynamically
complex coastal area exposed to storm floods. The two-way coupling leads to a
reduction of both surface wind speeds and simulated wave heights. In this
study, the sensitivity of atmospheric parameters, such as wind speed and
atmospheric pressure, to the wave-induced drag, in particular under storm
conditions, and the impact of two-way coupling on the wave model performance,
is quantified. Comparisons between data from in situ and satellite altimeter
observations indicate that two-way coupling improves the simulation of wind
and wave parameters of the model and justify its implementation for both
operational and climate simulations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:38:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e40349f2b3f64d829f9b3010289987b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:38:12Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ocean Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e40349f2b3f64d829f9b3010289987b12022-12-22T01:58:52ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922017-04-0113228930110.5194/os-13-289-2017An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North SeaK. Wahle0J. Staneva1W. Koch2L. Fenoglio-Marc3H. T. M. Ho-Hagemann4E. V. Stanev5Institute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Geesthacht, GermanyInstitute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Geesthacht, GermanyInstitute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Geesthacht, GermanyInstitute of Geodesy and Geoinformation, University of Bonn, Bonn, GermanyInstitute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Geesthacht, GermanyInstitute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Geesthacht, GermanyThe coupling of models is a commonly used approach when addressing the complex interactions between different components of earth systems. We demonstrate that this approach can result in a reduction of errors in wave forecasting, especially in dynamically complicated coastal ocean areas, such as the southern part of the North Sea – the German Bight. Here, we study the effects of coupling of an atmospheric model (COSMO) and a wind wave model (WAM), which is enabled by implementing wave-induced drag in the atmospheric model. The numerical simulations use a regional North Sea coupled wave–atmosphere model as well as a nested-grid high-resolution German Bight wave model. Using one atmospheric and two wind wave models simultaneously allows for study of the individual and combined effects of two-way coupling and grid resolution. This approach proved to be particularly important under severe storm conditions as the German Bight is a very shallow and dynamically complex coastal area exposed to storm floods. The two-way coupling leads to a reduction of both surface wind speeds and simulated wave heights. In this study, the sensitivity of atmospheric parameters, such as wind speed and atmospheric pressure, to the wave-induced drag, in particular under storm conditions, and the impact of two-way coupling on the wave model performance, is quantified. Comparisons between data from in situ and satellite altimeter observations indicate that two-way coupling improves the simulation of wind and wave parameters of the model and justify its implementation for both operational and climate simulations.http://www.ocean-sci.net/13/289/2017/os-13-289-2017.pdf |
| spellingShingle | K. Wahle J. Staneva W. Koch L. Fenoglio-Marc H. T. M. Ho-Hagemann E. V. Stanev An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea Ocean Science |
| title | An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea |
| title_full | An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea |
| title_fullStr | An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea |
| title_short | An atmosphere–wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea |
| title_sort | atmosphere ndash wave regional coupled model improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern north sea |
| url | http://www.ocean-sci.net/13/289/2017/os-13-289-2017.pdf |
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