| Title: | ESTIMATION OF EXTREME WAVE CONDITIONS FROM HINDCAST SIMULATIONS WITH APPLICATION TO THE WAVE CLIMATE ALONG FRENCH COASTS |
| DOI No: | 10.1142/9789812709554_0063 |
| Source: | COASTAL ENGINEERING 2006 (pp 739-751)
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| Author(s): | Florence Lafon
Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement (LNHE), EDF R&D, 6 quai Watier, BP 49, 78400 Chatou, France
Michel Benoit
Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement (LNHE), EDF R&D, 6 quai Watier, BP 49, 78400 Chatou, France
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| Abstract: | A numerical wave data-base has been built by hindcasting sea-state conditions over a period of 23 years and 8 months, from 1979/01/01 to 2002/08/31, using the TOMAWAC spectral wave model, driven by wind fields from the ERA-40 meteorological reanalysis produced by the ECMWF. The resolution of the finest model's grid is about 2 to 3 km along the French coasts of Atlantic ocean, English Channel and North Sea. From this data-base, synthetic charts representing mean and severe wave conditions over the European continental shelf are established. A statistical analysis of extreme wave heights is also carried out assuming that the wave climate is stationary. The so-called peak over threshold (POT) approach is applied and a chart of estimates of 50-year return spectral significant wave height is obtained. The results are compared with those obtained considering a block maxima approach. Finally potential trends in the regional wave climate are investigated over the period 1979-2002. |
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