Wind Estimation for Coastal Modeling Applications

Winds near the water surface are influenced by a variety of physical processes ranging from synoptic scale variations in atmospheric pressure to very localized interactions with coastal landforms. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CE requires wind information for estimating waves, water levels, and circulations at coastal locations varying from small reservoirs to the ocean shore. The broad scope of natural processes affecting winds over water and the present CE estimation procedures are reviewed.