Dataset
European Atlantic Offshore Wave Spectral Climatology under Historical and Future Climate Scenarios
Abstract
This dataset provides 3-hourly ocean wave spectral data at 1,031 fixed offshore locations along the Atlantic coast of Europe (including the British Isles) spanning three 30-year periods: historical (1985–2014), and future projections (2030-2059) under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). It also includes wave parametric data (significant height, peak period, direction...).
The wave spectra were generated using the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model, forced with high-resolution winds obtained through downscaling global climate models using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and open boundary conditions from simulations carried out with the WaveWatch III wave propagation model.
Each NetCDF-4 file includes eight 3-hourly spectral records per day, capturing wave energy distribution across 25 frequency bands and 36 directions for all 1,031 locations (spaced ~10 km apart, 50 km from the coast).
This spectral climatology is suitable for climate impact assessments, wave energy studies, and coastal hazard analysis.
Details
| Previous Info: |
No news update for this record
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| Previously used record identifiers: |
No related previous identifiers.
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| Access rules: |
Restricted data: please submit an application using the REQUEST ACCESS link for access.
Use of these data is covered by the following licence(s): https://artefacts.ceda.ac.uk/licences/rugl_versions/rugl_v1-0.pdf When using these data you must cite them correctly using the citation given on the CEDA Data Catalogue record. |
| Data lineage: |
This dataset was generated using a multi-stage modeling workflow. First, atmospheric variables from multiple CMIP6 climate models were bias-corrected and dynamically downscaled using the WRF model to produce high-resolution wind fields. These winds were then used to drive WaveWatch III simulations across the North Atlantic to provide offshore boundary conditions. Finally, the SWAN wave model was run at high resolution along the European Atlantic coast using WRF winds and WaveWatch III boundaries to compute detailed 3-hourly wave spectra at 1,031 offshore points. The entire workflow was repeated for three periods: historical (1985–2014) and future scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 (2030–2059). The output files were processed, verified, and stored in NetCDF-4 format following CF conventions before being transferred to the CEDA data centre. |
| Data Quality: |
The outputs from the simulations conducted using the SWAN model have been validated against two independent data sources. The validation focused on the three main variables that characterize wave conditions: significant wave height (Hs), peak wave period (Tp), and wave direction. First, a comparison was made with reanalysis data from the ERA5 database, enabling validation across the entire domain (the European Atlantic coast). Second, the model outputs were compared with in-situ measurements from buoys operated by Puertos del Estado (Spain) and the UK Met Office.
The results obtained confirm the reliability and robustness of the generated dataset.
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| File Format: |
NetCDF
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Related Documents
| Supplementary code hosted on GitHub |
Process overview
| Title | Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) |
| Abstract | SWAN propagates offshore wave conditions to the nearshore, and can account for: Wave propagation in time and space, shoaling, refraction due to current and depth, frequency shifting due to currents and non-stationary depth. Wave generation by wind. Three- and four-wave interactions. Whitecapping, bottom friction and depth-induced breaking. Dissipation due to aquatic vegetation, turbulent flow and viscous fluid mud. Wave-induced set-up. Propagation from laboratory up to global scales. Transmission through and reflection (specular and diffuse) against obstacles. Diffraction. |
| Input Description | None |
| Output Description | None |
| Software Reference | None |
- units: degrees
- var_id: direction
- var_id: energy_density
- units: J/m2/Hz/degr
- var_id: factor
- units: Hz
- var_id: frequency
- units: degrees_north
- var_id: latitude
- units: degrees_east
- var_id: longitude
Co-ordinate Variables
- standard_name: time
- var_id: time
- units: hours
Temporal Range
1985-01-01T00:00:00
2059-12-31T00:00:00
Geographic Extent
63.0000° |
||
-10.0000° |
11.0000° |
|
30.0000° |