Operational wind-wave forecasting system

Abstract

A numerical forecast system was implemented (POMA, acronym in Spanish: coupled wind-wave models) with 3 widely-used models: MM5 model, WAM-PROMISE and SWAN. Model validation was based on data from buoys owned by the NDBC (National Data Buoy Center). The nesting process was generated with a coarse grid for the Atlantic tropics (northern hemisphere) where winds 10 meters from the surface level were simulated (with MM5 model). This information was transferred to the global WAM model for deep waters using a down-scaling process based on initial boundary conditions to simulate wind waves in shallow waters. The POMA system was verified using several events; three cases with different wind characteristics are presented in this paper: 1) calm situation, 2) cold front and 3) hurricane. The results are automatically displayed on a restricted WEB page, illustrating two nested grids located in the Mexican coast-the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The system is able to incorporate new nested grids in sites with local interest.