Statistical modeling of the space–time relation between wind and significant wave height

Many marine activities, such as designing ocean structures and planning marine operations, require the characterization of sea-state climate. This study investigates the statistical relationship between wind and sea states, considering its spatiotemporal behavior. A transfer function is established between wind fields over the North Atlantic (predictors) and the significant wave height (predictand) at three locations: southwest of the French coast (Gironde), the English Channel, and the Gulf of Maine. The developed method considers both wind seas and swells by including local and global predictors. Using a fully data-driven approach, the global predictors' spatiotemporal structure is defined to account for the non-local and non-instantaneous relationship between wind and waves. Weather types are constructed using a regression-guided clustering method, and the resulting clusters correspond to different wave systems (swells and wind seas). Then, in each weather type, a penalized linear regression model is fitted between the predictor and the predictand. The validation analysis proves the models skill in predicting the significant wave height, with a root mean square error of approximately 0.3 m in the three considered locations. Additionally, the study discusses the physical insights underlying the proposed method.

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Obakrim Said, Ailliot Pierre, Monbet Valerie, Raillard Nicolas (2023). Statistical modeling of the space–time relation between wind and significant wave height. Advances in Statistical Climatology, Meteorology and Oceanography (ASCMO). 9 (1). 67-81. https://doi.org/10.5194/ascmo-9-67-2023, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00841/95277/

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