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  4. Data Release 10.5066/P990NDMQ

Wave model results of the central Beaufort Sea coast, Alaska

By Anita C. Engelstad, Kees M. Nederhoff, and Li H. Erikson

https://doi.org/10.5066/P990NDMQ

Dates

Published: Sept. 30, 2021

Summary

A three-level SWAN (version 41.31) nesting grid has been developed for the central Beaufort Sea coast to simulate waves over the hindcast period 1979 - 2019. The model includes the implementations of sea ice by Rogers (2019) and includes both 1) a dissipation source term and 2) a scaling of wind input source as functions by sea ice. The bathymetric dataset used for the model is the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO Version 4.0 Compilation Group, 2020).

Meteorological forcing conditions (wind and sea ice concentrations) along the model boundary were based on ERA5 reanalysis (Hersbach and others, 2020). ERA5 provides hourly estimates of a large number of atmospheric, land, and oceanic climate variables at 30-kilometer resolution. Here we provide the grids and the bathymetries needed to run the model as introduced in Nederhoff and others (2021), as well as summary statistics for wind and wave parameters and for sea ice coverage. In addition, time series files for the years 1979-2019 with wave, wind and ice parameters output files are provided for the area.

Simulation Data

  • Summary statistics for the central Beaufort Sea coast, Alaska

    A nested spectral wave model (Simulating Waves WAves Nearshore [SWAN]; Booij and others, 1999) was deployed for the central Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska to simulate waves for the period from 1979 to 2019. Results in the form of spatial summary statistics, describing wave parameters, wind speed and sea-ice area cover for the intermediate grid (see Overview Image on main page of data release), are provided. Further information can be found in Nederhoff and others (2021).

  • Time series for the central Beaufort Sea coast, Alaska

    Time series output from a spectral wave model (Simulating Waves WAves Nearshore [SWAN]; Booij and others 1999), implemented for the central Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska from 1979 to 2019, are provided. The variables include significant wave heights, mean wave periods, mean wave directions, wave steepness, and orbital velocities. Additionally, water depths, x (east-west) and y (north-south) components of the wind, and sea ice concentrations are provided. Further information can be found in Nederhoff and others (2021).

  • Wave model grids and bathymetry for the central Beaufort Sea coast, Alaska

    The required grid and bathymetry files to run a nested spectral wave model (Simulating Waves WAves Nearshore [SWAN]; Booij and others, 1999) for the central Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska are provided. A three-level SWAN nesting grid with grid resolutions of 5000 meters, 1000 meters, and 200 meters for the overall, intermediate and detail grids, respectively (see included Browse Graphic) has been developed. For this purpose, available local bathymetry (Coastal Frontiers Corporation, 2014; Kasper and others, 2019) was merged with a larger-scale product (IBCAO Version 4.0 Compilation Group, 2020). Further details about the development of this model, model forcings and model settings can be found in Nederhoff and others (2021).

    Preview of dataset
    Satellite image showing the overall (red), intermediate (blue), and detailed (green) grids used in the SWAN model. ERA5 boundaries are also indicated (yellow circles).

Suggested Citation

Engelstad, A.C., Nederhoff, K., and Erikson, L.H., 2021, Wave model results of the central Beaufort Sea coast, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P990NDMQ

Overview Image

Overview image of data release
Satellite image showing the study area and domain grids used in the SWAN model.