01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-05-0256 |
| Title of Abstract | Influence of WRF Wind Forcings on Simulated Ocean Waves during ESCS Biparjoy (2023) over the Arabian Sea |
| Authors | Anuradha Modi*, Dr. R. Harikumar, K.Sandhya , Dr. T.M Balakrishnan Nair |
| Organisation | INCOIS |
| Address | INCOIS hyderabad, TELANGANA, India Pincode: 500090 E-mail: a.modi-p@incois.gov.in |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | This study investigates the performance of a high-resolution wave modeling framework during the lifecycle of the Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) Biparjoy (June 2023) using three different wind forcing datasets: the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). Surface winds were validated against buoy observations and Oceansat-3 scatterometer data, showing that WRF most effectively represented the cyclone⿿s intensity and temporal evolution, particularly during peak wind events. The Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model, driven independently by each wind dataset, was assessed against Wave Rider buoy records and multi-mission satellite altimeter measurements. Time-series and spatial analyses indicated that all three models reproduced both calm and storm conditions reasonably well, with WRF exhibiting improved accuracy in coastal areas and better sensitivity under extreme conditions. Although ECMWF slightly outperformed at certain open-ocean locations, WRF consistently achieved stronger correlations and lower RMSE in nearshore regions, attributed to its finer spatial and temporal resolution. Altimeter-based validation further underscored the reliability of WRF-driven forecasts, especially for significant wave heights exceeding 4 m. These results emphasize the advantage of high-resolution regional wind models such as WRF in enhancing wave forecasting during tropical cyclones and support their application in operational coastal hazard management. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | WRF, SWAN model, Scatterometer winds, Wave Rider buoy, Satellite altimeter, Significant wave height |
| For Awards | no |