Artículo científico -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas, 2001The evaluation and implementation of two public domain wave spectral models: SWAN and WAM to be used in hindcasting and forecasting in the Central American region are presented. The typical model characteristics are analyzed using simulations for simple bathymetric cases. The model responses are evaluated using boundary conditions in the Caribbean region including extreme meteorological conditions like hurricanes. Those natural phenomena’s are of great importance given the historical frequency impacts in the region. The SWAN model shows some difficulties to propagate wave energy in big areas generating some wave height and direction anomalies mainly around islands or in low interpolated depth values. The numerical schemes and the different model’s variable parameterizations are responsible for the different spatial energy propagation found in some applications in this study. An integrated system could be working for the whole region where the wave information is necessary in activities like fishing, marine transit and transport, port operations and tourist activities.Universidad de Costa Rica. Centro de Investigaciones GeofísicasPrograma de Intercambio Académico, CICESE, México.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI
