Validation Test Report for the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere MesoscalePrediction System (COAMPS) Version 5.0: Ocean/Wave Component Validation

Abstract : The ocean-wave component of the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) has been validated for four test cases: (1) Hurricane Ivan, (2) Okinawa Trough, (3) Florida Straits, and (4) Adriatic Sea. Wave properties including the Stokes Drift Current, wave radiation stress and enhancement of bottom drag are passed from the wave to ocean model NCOM. The ocean model passes surface currents and water levels to the wave model SWAN. Ocean-wave coupling shows improvement and better model predictability in winds, waves, sea surface temperature, currents, sonic layer depth and associated acoustic properties. Comparisons to in situ measurements showed improved wave predictions when surface currents were included. Current-wave model interaction showed substantial improvements in high-wind conditions. The long-term test cases successfully demonstrated the capability of operational COAMPS and ESMF coupler functionality, both in model accuracy and system robustness for operational implementation