1. Project Overview
The Wave Information Studies (WIS) is a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) sponsored
project that generates consistent, hourly, long-term (20+ years) wave
climatologies along all US coastlines, including the Great Lakes and US island
territories. The WIS program originated in the Great Lakes in the mid 1970’s
and migrated to the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Oceans. The currently
available domains are depicted in Figure 1.1.
Figure 1.1. WIS Hindcast Domains
Unlike a forecast, a wave hindcast predicts past wave conditions using a computer
model and observed wind fields. By using value-added wind fields, which
combine ground and satellite wind observations, hindcasted wave information is
generally of higher accuracy than forecast wave conditions and is often representative
of observed wave conditions.
This site provides access to the database of hindcasted wave information for a
densely-spaced series of “virtual wave gauges” in water depths of 15-20 m and for
a less-dense series in deeper water (100 m or more). The overall distribution
of WIS output points is depicted in Figure 1.2. Detail from the Gulf of Alaska
domain is shown in Figure 1.3. Hindcast data available from each site include hourly
wind speed, wind direction, and bulk wave parameters (significant wave height,
period, and direction). Discrete directional wave spectra at 1 to 3-hour
intervals are also available (contact us). A suite of tabular
and graphic products for each location is also provided.
Figure 1.2. Distribution of WIS hindcast output points
Accurate generation of high quality wave hindcasts is a complicated process with many
critical steps, model parameters, boundary conditions, and variables. The
models used, along with details of the specific parameters and constraints
applied to each basin are described in the modeling section of the
documentation.
While modern wave models are very good, no wave hindcast is perfect. Errors may
result from miss-approximated storms in the wind field representation,
shortcomings in the model technology or a unique meteorological event never
encountered. As a result, WIS devotes a significant effort to validation using
available observation data. Users are encouraged to examine the validation
data for locations close to your station of interest.
Figure 1.3. WIS station detail from Alaska domain
We are constantly working to improve the quality of the data and products
available over the WIS website. Please contact us
with any questions, suggestions or concerns. A user survey is also available.
2. WaveModels
The wave models used to generate the wave hindcasts have been evolving along with modeling
technologies. During the original effort in the 1970’s in the Great Lakes,
first generation models were used, followed by second generation and ultimately
the present third generation wave models. Brief descriptions of each of the
wave models used in the WIS effort are provided along with links for additional
information.
WISWAVE is a discrete
spectral wave model solving the energy balance equation for the time and
spatial variation of a 2-D wave spectrum from wind forcing. The framework of
this code is derived from (Resio, 1981). WISWAVE was modified to include
shallow-water effects (Hubertz, 1992) and used for the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico
and the Great Lakes (Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario). WAVAD, a
slightly modified version of WISWAVE added second-order wave propagation.
WAVAD was used to generate an updated wave hindcast in Lake Ontario.
WAVEWATCH III: is a discrete
spectral wave model solving the action (energy/radial frequency) balance
equation for time and spatial variation of a 2-D wave spectrum from wind
forcing. The theoretical framework is based on work documented by Tolman and
Chalikov (1994). WAVEWATCH III was used for the Pacific (all current data,
version 2)
WAM (Wave Model): is a discrete
spectral wave model solving the action (energy/radial frequency) balance
equation for time and spatial variation of a 2-D wave spectrum from wind
forcing. The theoretical framework is documented in WAMDIG (1988), Komen et
al., 1994). WAM was used for the Alaska hindcast data.
3. Hindcast Data
Vital to any user is documentation, not only defining accessible wave information,
(time-series and products), but also summaries of each domain (Atlantic, Gulf
of Mexico, Pacific, and Great Lakes), pertaining to the geographical/grid
resolutions used, forcing information (wind field specification), options in
the model implemented and other domain specific information (e.g. ice fields).
More
to come!
Domains
Include
in the discussion the following information and graphic products
Forcing
Nesting (BC’s)
Grids /
Time Steps
Output
Atlantic
Gulf of Mexico
Pacific
US
Mainland
Alaska
References
Hubertz, J.M., 1992, “User’s
Guide to the Wave Information Studies (WIS) Wave Model: Version 2.0”, WIS
Report 27, US Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg,
MS, 41 pp.
Komen, G. J., L. Cavaleri, M.
Donelan, K. Hasselmann, S. Hasselmann and P. A. E. M. Janssen, 1994: Dynamics
and Modelling of Ocean Waves. Cambridge University Press, 532 pp.
Resio, D.T., 1981,”The Estimation of Wind-Wave Generation in a
Discrete Spectral Model”, The Journal of Physical Oceanography, 11:4,
510-525
Tolman, H. L., and D. V. Chalikov, 1994,
“Development of a third-generation ocean wave model at NOAA-NMC,” Proc.
Waves - Physical and numerical modelling , M. Isaacson and M.C. Quick Eds.,
Vancouver, 724-73
WAMDIG, 1988, “The WAM model - A third generation ocean wave
prediction model,” Journal of Physical Oceanography, 18,
1775-1810
WIS Publications
Wave Information Studies: Publications
Hanson, J.L., B.
Tracy, H. Tolman and R. Scott, 2009. Pacific hindcast
performance of three numerical wave models, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,
26, pp.1614-1633.
Hanson, J.L., B.A. Tracy, H.L. Tolman,and
R.D. Douglas, 2005, “Pacific Hindcast
Performance Evaluation of Three Numerical Wave Models,” 9th
International Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting, Victoria,
British Columbia, 29 pp (online only).
Hanson, J.L. and Jensen, R.E., 2004, “Wave System
Diagnostics for Numerical Wave Models,” 8th International Workshop
on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting, Oahu, HI. (online only): Spectral comparison technique for validation of Pacific
Basin hindcast results with measurements (0.6mb, pdf)
Hubertz, J.M., 1992, “User’s Guide to the Wave Information Studies
(WIS) Wave Model: Version 2.0”, WIS Report 27, US Army Corps of Engineers,
Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS, 41 pp.
Jensen, R.E., 1994, “Spectral Wave
Modeling Technology,” CETN I-58, US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station,
Coastal Engineering Research Center, Vicksburg, MS.
Tracy, B. A., “Directional
Characteristics of the 1990-1999 Wave Information Studies: Gulf of Mexico
Hindcast,”
7th International Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting,
Banff, Canada, 10 pp. (online only): Comparison of
the mean wave direction results of the Gulf of Mexico hindcast with directional
measurements (0.18 mb, pdf)
Tracy, B. A. and Cialone, A., 2004, “Comparison of Gulf of
Mexico Wave Information Studies (WIS) 2-G Hindcast with 3-G Hindcasting” 8th
International Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting, Oahu, HI.
(online only): A Comparison of the WIS Gulf of
Mexico second generation wave hindcast with a hindcast using third generation
numerical wave models (0.6mb, pdf)
Wave Information Studies: Reports (in PDF format)
Hawaiian islands Severe Wave Climate
1995-2004 (0.5mb, pdf) - Summary of monthly maximum wave heights for a
location northeast of Oahu and spectral partitioned results for the most severe
storm situations (Conference poster reduced to page format)
Pacific Ocean Wave Information Study
Validation of Wave Model Results Against Satellite Altimeter Data
(0.3mb) - Baird analysis of the 1995-2004 Pacific Basin hindcast results
compared to satellite information (Draft Report, draft appendices below)
