Comparative Evaluation of Accuracy of Numerical Wave Models Based on Satellite Altimetry Data

We developed a technique of selection of along-track data of altimeters in accordance with their binding to the data of buoy measurements and data of two wave models: WAM4 and its modified version—WAM4-M. We estimated the root-mean-square deviations (RMSD) of the model data of the wind wave heights from the calibrated altimetric data in the Indian Ocean for the period 2013–2015. The RMSD were shown to have significant variability over space. We established advantages of WAM4-M over WAM4 model in terms of the standard and corrected RMSD for the different zones of the Indian Ocean and the entire ocean. The reasons for the variations of the RMSD of the two study models are discussed in dependence on the zone of the Indian Ocean.