| 1. |
- Semedo, Alvaro, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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A Global View on the Wind Sea and Swell Climate and Variability from ERA-40
- 2011
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In: Journal of Climate. - 0894-8755 .- 1520-0442. ; 24:5, s. 1461-1479
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper a detailed global climatology of wind sea and swell parameters, based on the ERA-40 wave reanalysis, is presented. The spatial pattern of the swell dominance of the Earth’s Oceans, in terms of the wave field energy balance and wave field characteristics, is also investigated. Statistical analysis shows that the Global Ocean is strongly dominated by swell waves. The inter-annual variability of the wind sea and swell significant wave heights, and how they are related to the resultant significant wave height, is analyzed over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The leading modes of variability of wind sea and swell demonstrate noticeable differences, particularly in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. During the Northern Hemisphere winter a strong north-south swell propagation pattern is observed in the Atlantic Ocean. Statistically significant secular increases in the wind sea and swell significant wave heights are found in the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans.
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| 2. |
- Semedo, Alvaro, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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Global Distribution of the Wave Age Parameter
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this paper a detailed global climatology of the wave age parameter, based on the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) ERA-40 reanalysis is presented. The global annual and seasonal mean climatological patterns of the wave age confirm, in line with previous studies, the global dominance of the World Ocean by swell waves. It is also shown, from a climatological perspective, that the state of equilibrium of the World Ocean is a relatively rare event. The leading modes of variability of the wave age demonstrate that the areas of higher explained variability (the centers of action) occur mostly along the equator, coinciding with the equatorial swell pools. Statistically significant secular changes of the annual wave age parameter are analyzed, revealing dominant upward trend in the equatorial and southeast Pacific Ocean, and partially in the extratropical storm tracks in the Southern Ocean, although in some areas, mainly in the Indian Ocean, some negative trends of the wave age are also observed.
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