Marine geomorphology

Simulations of the northern South China Sea using WAVEWATCH Ⅲ and SWAN

  • JIANG Li-Fang ,
  • ZHANG Zhi-Xu ,
  • Ji-Xi-Quan ,
  • Chen-Rong-Yu
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  • 1. State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography SouthChinaSea Institute of Oceanology, CAS , Guangzhou 510301, China ; 2. Graduate University of CAS , Beijing 100049, China

Received date: 2011-11-01

  Revised date: 2011-11-01

  Online published: 2011-11-01

Abstract

We study the applicability of the National Centers Environmental Prediction/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research ( NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis wind field using the buoy data including the wind speed, significant wave height and mean wave period from September 1987 to August 1988 in the northern South China Sea (SCS). To some extent, the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis wind speed is consistent with the buoy data in the northern SCS. Then we assess the simulations using wave models WAVEWATCH Ⅲ (WW3) and Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) forced by the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. The results show that the simulations of the significant wave height (SWH) from the two models are almost the same during the monsoon and monsoon transition periods. The simulation of the mean wave period (MWP) from the WW3 is better than that from the SWAN during the monsoon period, while the results are just contrary during the monsoon transition period. The spatial characteristics from the WW3 simulation in the northern SCS are presented. The SWH affected by monsoon shows significant seasonal change in the northern SCS, while the MWP presents certain semi-annual variability.

Cite this article

JIANG Li-Fang , ZHANG Zhi-Xu , Ji-Xi-Quan , Chen-Rong-Yu . Simulations of the northern South China Sea using WAVEWATCH Ⅲ and SWAN[J]. Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 2011 , 30(5) : 27 -37 . DOI: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2011.05.027

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