Evaluating third generation wave spectral models performances in coastal areas. An application to Eastern Liguria

Abstract

In this work performances of two different wave spectral models (Wavewatch III and SWAN) are presented. Results are compared with those provided by a validated meteocean modelling chain. Potentialities and deficiencies of either the models are evaluated in relation to their numerical accuracy and ability to represent coastal processes. Both of the models are applied to a coastal area belonging to the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea on a finite-elements computational mesh. As expected the two models provide comparable results. Being conceived for nearshore modelling SWAN provides a more detailed representation of coastal phenomena, including for example a parameterization of diffraction which is neglected by WWIII. On the other hand the Operator Splitting Method employed by WWIII to integrate wave action equation provides a better scalability of time step for different phenomena involved in wave modelling, guaranteeing a better computational efficiency for non-stationary modelling.978-1-4799-8736-8/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE

An Operational Wave System within the Monitoring Program of a Mediterranean Beach

“…Moreover, the inclusion of shallow water physics packages in the recent versions of WWIII (such as version 4.18 used in this work) has extended the field of application of this model towards coastal waters. At the same time, it is worth mentioning the limit of WWIII in simulating the wave propagation pattern induced by the diffraction process around small islands [30] or artificial structures [31,32]. However, since diffraction is not expected to significantly affect wave propagation within the shoreface of Poetto beach, the use of WWIII in coastal waters appears justified in this study.…”

Wave Hindcast in Enclosed Basins: Comparison among SWAN, STWAVE and CMS-Wave Models

“…The model can perform stationary and non-stationary simulations over structured or unstructured meshes. It solves the equations with a finite difference approach using an implicit iterative direct method for time integration (Sartini et al [24]). The sources and sinks included are generation by wind, dissipation by whitecapping, dissipation by wave-breaking induced by depth, dissipation by bottom friction, wave-wave interactions in both deep and shallow water.…”

Effect of Mo.S.E. Closures on Wind Waves in the Venetian Lagoon: In Situ and Numerical Analyses

“…This mechanism is critical for the specific case of enclosed basins, such as lagoons and lakes since the wind-wave growth starts from land and the wave boundary condition is null (Favaretto et al [39]). The model solves the equations with a finite difference approach using an implicit iterative direct method for time integration (Sartini et al [40]).…”