GEOSAT data in comparison to wave model results and ocean winds under storm conditions

Abstract

A second and a third generation shallow water wave prediction model have been applied to several selected storms in the North European Shelf area. Both models are verified with conventional sea state measurements obtained from weather ships, platforms and data buoys. The results of the wave models and the driving ocean windfields have been compared with observations recorded by the GEOdesy SATellite (GEOSAT). The considered parameters are significant wave height and ocean-surface wind speed. The well known statistical behaviour of the North European Storm Study wave mode results and the corresponding ocean wind fields allow a quality check of the GEOSAT data for periods of high wind speeds or strong sea states.In general it is found that the satellite values for significant wave height and the wave model results agree fairly well. In contrast to that the wind speed values derived from the GEOSAT radar altimeter measurements are too low in comparison to the ocean winds received from the United Kingdom Meteorological Office. The discrepancy increases with increasing wind speedsAvailable from TIB Hannover: RA 3251(93/E/22) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman