scholarly journals An atmosphere-wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the Southern North Sea

Author(s):  
Kathrin Wahle ◽  
Joanna Staneva ◽  
Wolfgang Koch ◽  
Luciana Fenoglio-Marc ◽  
Ha T. M. Ho-Hagemann ◽  
...  

Abstract. Reduction of wave forecasting errors is a challenge especially in dynamically complicated coastal ocean areas as the southern part of the North Sea area – the German Bight. Coupling of different models is a favoured approach to address this issue as it accounts for the complex interactions of waves, currents and the atmosphere. Here we study the effects of coupling between an atmospheric model and a wind wave model, which in the present study is enabled through an introduction of wave induced drag in the atmosphere model. This, on one side, leads to a reduction of the surface wind speeds, and on the other side, to a reduction of simulated wave heights. The sensitivity of atmospheric parameters such as wind speed, and atmospheric pressure to wave-induced drag, in particular under storm conditions, is studied. Additionally, the impact of the two-way coupling on wave model performance is investigated. The performance of the coupled model system has been demonstrated for extreme events and calm conditions. The results revealed that the effect of coupling results in significant changes in both wind and waves. The simulations are compared to data from in-situ and satellite observations. The results indicate that the two-way coupling improves the agreement between observations and simulations for both wind and wave parameters in comparison to the one-way coupled model. In addition, the errors of the high-resolution German Bight wave model compared to the observations have been significantly reduced in the coupled model. The improved skills resulting from the proposed method justifies its implementations for both operational and climate simulations.

Ocean Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Wahle ◽  
Joanna Staneva ◽  
Wolfgang Koch ◽  
Luciana Fenoglio-Marc ◽  
Ha T. M. Ho-Hagemann ◽  
...  

Abstract. The coupling of models is a commonly used approach when addressing the complex interactions between different components of earth systems. We demonstrate that this approach can result in a reduction of errors in wave forecasting, especially in dynamically complicated coastal ocean areas, such as the southern part of the North Sea – the German Bight. Here, we study the effects of coupling of an atmospheric model (COSMO) and a wind wave model (WAM), which is enabled by implementing wave-induced drag in the atmospheric model. The numerical simulations use a regional North Sea coupled wave–atmosphere model as well as a nested-grid high-resolution German Bight wave model. Using one atmospheric and two wind wave models simultaneously allows for study of the individual and combined effects of two-way coupling and grid resolution. This approach proved to be particularly important under severe storm conditions as the German Bight is a very shallow and dynamically complex coastal area exposed to storm floods. The two-way coupling leads to a reduction of both surface wind speeds and simulated wave heights. In this study, the sensitivity of atmospheric parameters, such as wind speed and atmospheric pressure, to the wave-induced drag, in particular under storm conditions, and the impact of two-way coupling on the wave model performance, is quantified. Comparisons between data from in situ and satellite altimeter observations indicate that two-way coupling improves the simulation of wind and wave parameters of the model and justify its implementation for both operational and climate simulations.


Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Wiese ◽  
Emil Stanev ◽  
Wolfgang Koch ◽  
Arno Behrens ◽  
Beate Geyer ◽  
...  

The effects of coupling between the atmospheric model of the Consortium for Small-Scale Modelling-Climate Limited-area Modelling (CCLM) and the wind wave model (WAM) on the lower atmosphere within the North Sea area are studied. Due to the two-way coupling between the models, the influences of wind waves and the atmosphere on each other can be determined. This two-way coupling between these models is enabled through the introduction of wave-induced drag into CCLM and updated winds into WAM. As a result of wave-induced drag, different atmospheric parameters are either directly or indirectly influenced by the wave conditions. The largest differences between the coupled and reference model simulation are found during storm events as well as in areas of steep gradients in the mean sea level pressure, wind speed or temperature. In the two-way coupled simulation, the position and strength of these gradients vary, compared to the reference simulation, leading to differences that spread throughout the entire planetary boundary layer and outside the coupled model area, thereby influencing the atmosphere over land and ocean, although not coupled to the wave model. Ultimately, the results of both model simulations are assessed against in situ and satellite measurements, with a better general performance of the two-way coupled simulation with respect to the observations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 877
Author(s):  
Johan Risandi ◽  
Dirk P. Rijnsdorp ◽  
Jeff E. Hansen ◽  
Ryan J. Lowe

The non-hydrostatic wave-flow model SWASH was used to investigate the hydrodynamic processes at a reef fringed pocket beach in southwestern Australia (Gnarabup Beach). Gnarabup Beach is a ~1.5 km long beach with highly variable bathymetry that is bounded by rocky headlands. The site is also exposed to large waves from the Southern Ocean. The model performance was evaluated using observations collected during a field program measuring waves, currents and water levels between June and July 2017. Modeled sea-swell wave heights (periods 5–25 s), infragravity wave heights (periods 25–600 s), and wave-induced setup exhibited moderate to good agreement with the observations throughout the model domain. The mean currents, which were highly-spatially variable across the study site, were less accurately predicted at most sites. Model agreement with the observations tended to be the worst in the areas with the most uncertain bathymetry (i.e., areas where high resolution survey data was not available). The nearshore sea-swell wave heights, infragravity wave heights and setup were strongly modulated by the offshore waves. The headlands and offshore reefs also had a strong impact on the hydrodynamics within the lagoon (bordered by the reefs) by dissipating much of the offshore sea-swell wave energy and modifying the pattern of the nearshore flows (magnitude and direction). Wave breaking on the reef platforms drove strong onshore directed mean currents over the reefs, resulting in off-shore flow through channels between the reefs and headlands where water exchanges from the lagoon to ocean. Our results demonstrate that the SWASH model is able to produce realistic predictions of the hydrodynamic processes within bathymetrically-complex nearshore systems.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2373-2389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Staneva ◽  
Kathrin Wahle ◽  
Wolfgang Koch ◽  
Arno Behrens ◽  
Luciana Fenoglio-Marc ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study addresses the impact of wind, waves, tidal forcing and baroclinicity on the sea level of the German Bight during extreme storm events. The role of wave-induced processes, tides and baroclinicity is quantified, and the results are compared with in situ measurements and satellite data. A coupled high-resolution modelling system is used to simulate wind waves, the water level and the three-dimensional hydrodynamics. The models used are the wave model WAM and the circulation model GETM. The two-way coupling is performed via the OASIS3-MCT coupler. The effects of wind waves on sea level variability are studied, accounting for wave-dependent stress, wave-breaking parameterization and wave-induced effects on vertical mixing. The analyses of the coupled model results reveal a closer match with observations than for the stand-alone circulation model, especially during the extreme storm Xaver in December 2013. The predicted surge of the coupled model is significantly enhanced during extreme storm events when considering wave–current interaction processes. This wave-dependent approach yields a contribution of more than 30 % in some coastal areas during extreme storm events. The contribution of a fully three-dimensional model compared with a two-dimensional barotropic model showed up to 20 % differences in the water level of the coastal areas of the German Bight during Xaver. The improved skill resulting from the new developments justifies further use of the coupled-wave and three-dimensional circulation models in coastal flooding predictions.


Ocean Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Rasquin ◽  
Rita Seiffert ◽  
Benno Wachler ◽  
Norbert Winkel

Abstract. Due to climate change an accelerated mean sea level rise is expected. One key question for the development of adaptation measures is how mean sea level rise affects tidal dynamics in shelf seas such as the North Sea. Owing to its low-lying coastal areas, the German Bight (located in the southeast of the North Sea) will be especially affected. Numerical hydrodynamic models help to understand how mean sea level rise changes tidal dynamics. Models cannot adequately represent all processes in overall detail. One limiting factor is the resolution of the model grid. In this study we investigate which role the representation of the coastal bathymetry plays when analysing the response of tidal dynamics to mean sea level rise. Using a shelf model including the whole North Sea and a high-resolution hydrodynamic model of the German Bight we investigate the changes in M2 amplitude due to a mean sea level rise of 0.8 and 10 m. The shelf model and the German Bight Model react in different ways. In the simulations with a mean sea level rise of 0.8 m the M2 amplitude in the shelf model generally increases in the region of the German Bight. In contrast, the M2 amplitude in the German Bight Model increases only in some coastal areas and decreases in the northern part of the German Bight. In the simulations with a mean sea level rise of 10 m the M2 amplitude increases in both models with largely similar spatial patterns. In two case studies we adjust the German Bight Model in order to more closely resemble the shelf model. We find that a different resolution of the bathymetry results in different energy dissipation changes in response to mean sea level rise. Our results show that the resolution of the bathymetry especially in flat intertidal areas plays a crucial role for modelling the impact of mean sea level rise.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 964-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuchun Lai ◽  
◽  
Luying Liu ◽  
Haijiang Liu ◽  
◽  
...  

To study wave effects on storm surge, a depth-averaged 2D numerical model based on the Delft3D-FLOW model was utilized to simulate near-shore hydrodynamic responses to Typhoon Khanun. The Delft3D-WAVE model is coupled dynamically with the FLOW model and the enhanced vertical mixing, mass flux and wave set-up were considered as wave-current interaction in the coupled model. After verifying storm surge wind and pressure formulae of storm surge and optimizing calibration parameters, three numerical tests with different control variables were conducted. Model tests show that wave effects must be considered in numerical simulation. Simulating the flow-wave coupled model showed that wave-induced surge height could be as large as 0.4 m in near-shore areas for Typhoon Khanun. Comparing to its contribution to the peak surge height, wave-induced surge plays a more significant role to total surge height with respect to the time-averaged surge height in storm events. Wave-induced surge (wave setup) is in advance of typhoon propagation and becomes significant even before the typhoon landfall. Model tests demonstrate that the wave effects are driven predominantly by the storm wave, while the boundary wave contribution is rather limited.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 232
Author(s):  
Callum Thompson ◽  
Christelle Barthe ◽  
Soline Bielli ◽  
Pierre Tulet ◽  
Joris Pianezze

During 2 January 2014, Cyclone Bejisa passed near La Réunion in the southwestern Indian Ocean, bringing wind speeds of 41 m s−1, an ocean swell of 7 m, and rainfall accumulations of 1025 mm over 48 h. As a typical cyclone to impact La Réunion, we investigate how the characteristics of this cyclone could change in response to future warming via high-resolution, atmosphere–ocean coupled simulations of Bejisa-like cyclones in historical and future environments. Future environments are constructed using the pseudo global warming method whereby perturbations are added to historical analyses from six Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) climate models. These models follow the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change’s (IPCC) Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) RCP8.5 emissions scenario and project ocean surface warming of 1.1–4.2 °C by 2100. Under these conditions, we find that future Bejisa-like cyclones are 6.5% more intense on average and reach their lifetime maximum intensity 2 degrees further poleward. Additionally, future cyclones produce heavier rainfall, with a 33.8% average increase in the median rainrate, and are 9.2% smaller, as measured by the radius of 17.5 m s−1 winds. Furthermore, when surface wind output is used to run an ocean wave model in post, we find a 4.6% increase in the significant wave height.


Author(s):  
Haoyu Jiang ◽  
Hao Zheng ◽  
Lin Mu

Spaceborne altimeters are an important data source for obtaining global sea surface wind speeds (U10). Although many altimeter U10 algorithms have been proposed and they perform well, there is still room for improvement. In this study, the data from ten altimeters were collocated with buoys to investigate the error of the altimeter U10 retrievals. The U10 residuals were found to be significantly dependent on many oceanic and atmospheric parameters. Because these oceanic and atmospheric parameters are inter-correlated, an asymptotic strategy was used to isolate the impact of different parameters and establish a neural-network-based correction model of altimeter U10. The results indicated that significant wave heights and mean wave periods are effective in correcting U10 retrievals, probably due to the tilting modulation of long-waves on the sea surface. After the wave correction, the root-mean-square error of the retrieved U10 was reduced from 1.42 m/s to 1.24 m/s and the impacts of thermodynamic parameters, such as sea surface (air) temperate, became negligible. The U10 residuals after correction showed that the atmospheric instability can lead to errors on extrapolated buoy U10. The buoy measurements with large air-sea temperature differences need to be excluded in the Cal/Val of remotely sensed U10.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Drüke ◽  
Werner von Bloh ◽  
Stefan Petri ◽  
Sibyll Schaphoff ◽  
Boris Sakschewski ◽  
...  

<p>Feedbacks between biosphere and other components of the Earth system are challenging to model accurately and therefore are often omitted or oversimplified in Earth system models (ESMs). However, their importance is increasingly recognized as rapid disturbances due to anthropogenic (e.g., deforestation) or natural (e.g. regional increase in fires) drivers are already observed.</p><p>Here we couple the well established and comprehensively validated dynamic global vegetation model LPJmL5.1 (von Bloh et al., 2018) to an Earth System model CM2Mc (MOM5/AM2, Galbraith et al. 2011). We replace the simple static vegetation model LaD with LPJmL5.1 and couple the water- and energy cycle by using GFDL’s Flexible Modeling System (FMS). In order to stabilize the model performance, several adjustments to LPJmL5.1 had to be done, including the introduction of a subdaily cycle for the energy and water calculations, the implementation of a conductance of the soil evaporation and plant interception, the calculation of a canopy layer humidity, and the surface energy balance in order to calculate the surface and canopy layer temperature within LPJmL5.1.</p><p>The coupled system allows us to answer questions regarding ecosystem stability with a complete energy and water cycle. For example, changes in the vegetation have a large impact on atmosphere dynamics, which in turn affects precipitation and feeds back into vegetation growth and mortality. To examine this feedback a simple experiment is performed by deforesting the whole Amazon basin and replacing it with grassland. Our results show decreasing precipitation and increasing canopy temperature which becomes a stable climate state in this treeless scenario. Future applications of the coupled model may include the investigation of tipping points in the biosphere, the impact of different atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations or climate change and land-use change scenarios.</p><p> </p>


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document