April 7, 2020
Report

Mid-Atlantic Bight wave hindcast to support DOE lidar buoy deployments: model validation

Abstract

This study presents a shelf scale wave hindcast for the Mid-Atlantic Bight to provide accurate wave data to complement the measured data gathered by two DOE lidar buoy deployments off the coasts of Virginia and New Jersey. PNNL developed a ~2 km resolution model based on Wavewatch III and forced with analyzed winds and ocean currents; and executed a four-year hindcast for the period from January 2014 to December 2017. The model results are compared well against 16 wave-measuring buoys and data derived from six satellite-borne radar altimeters. In addition, the model results for two storm events that generated large waves, Hurricane Hermine and the January 2016 Blizzard, are discussed in detail.

Revised: July 2, 2020 | Published: April 7, 2020

Citation

Garcia Medina G., W.J. Shaw, Z. Yang, and R.K. Newsom. 2020. Mid-Atlantic Bight wave hindcast to support DOE lidar buoy deployments: model validation Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.