Validation of the wave model SWAN against altimeter data from Jason-2 satellite

The Altimeters have been more and more used in ocean forecast. They have been used not only in ocean forecast validation but also be assimilated in ocean forecast model. Since August 2011, the HY-2 satellite has been launched successfully, and now it has been used in ocean wave model. This paper is armed to use the Jason-2 altimeter significant wave height (SWH) data to validate the accuracy of wave forecast, which has assimilated the HY-2 SWH. Compared with Jason-2 SWH, the validation results show that 24h RMS (Root Mean Square) and RE (Relative Error) were 0.49 m and 25.22%; 48h RMS and RE were 0.59 m and 29.19%; 72h RMS and RE were 0.88 m and 40.49%; The sea state of Northwest Pacific is mainly middle wave, mostly 54%, and the forecast RMS and RE are mostly 0.5m and 30% except the 72h forecast. And the accuracy of forecast SWH products are better in high ocean state than in low sea state.