Application of SWAN model for storm generated wave simulation in the Canadian Beaufort Sea

Abstract

The wave model SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) is implemented for the Canadian Beaufort Sea and storm generated waves are investigated through comparisons between in situ buoy observations and numerical simulations. Simulations are performed for four storms using the SWAN wave model. We specifically use SWAN's non-stationary and two-dimensional modes in a fine resolution nested domain within a coarse resolution domain. Two established whitecapping formulations in SWAN are examined; one is dependent on mean spectral wave steepness and the other is on local spectral steepness. Model simulations in the shallow fine resolution domain also consider the effects of bottom friction and nonlinear triad interactions. For the Beaufort Sea study area, wave simulations in which the white capping formulation is dependent on local spectral steepness are better than those where the dependency is on mean spectral steepness; however implementation of bottom friction term and triad mechanisms in the present study does not lead to any notable enhancement in the simulations. Keywords: Arctic Ocean, Beaufort Sea, Mackenzie delta, Storm waves, SWAN