Numerical Wave Models

Numerical wave models

At IPMA the sea state forecasts are based on the model developed in the ECMWF (www.ecmwf.int), namely the High RESolution WAve Model (HRES-WAM), global model with a spatial resolution of 0.125°. The model has a spectral discretization of 36 frequencies and 36 directions. IPMA has still implemented the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model in the adjacent region to Portugal mainland, with a 0.05° horizontal resolution and a spectral discretization of 36 frequencies and 36 directions to support forecasting.

Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN)

SWAN is a third-generation wave, developed at Delft University of Technology (TUDelft), Holanda (www.swan.tudelft.nl). At IPMA, SWAN runs over three domains, Mainland Portugal area and for the Azores and Madeira, with a horizontal resolution of 0.05 and a spectral discretization of 36 frequencies and 36 directions. SWAN is forced by the 10 m wind field from the atmospheric model HRES from ECMWF which runs at IPMA with 9 km horizontal resolution, and by the spectral density from the High RESolution WAve Model (HRES-WAM) (www.ecmwf.int), which has a horizontal resolution of 0.1° and a spectral discretization of 36 frequencies and 36 directions.

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