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Evaluation of the impact of high-resolution winds on the coastal waves

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This study discusses the impact of high-resolution winds on the coastal waves and analyses the effectiveness of the high-resolution winds in recreating the fine-scale features along the coastal regions during the pre-monsoon season (March–May). The influence of the diurnal variation of winds on waves is studied for the Tamil Nadu coastal region using wind fields from weather research and forecast (WRF) (3 km) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) (27.5 km). The improvement in the coastal forecast is then quantified with wave rider buoy observations. The high-resolution wind fields simulated fine-scale features like land–sea breeze events and showed good agreement with observation results. The error in the wave height and period is reduced by 8% and 46%, respectively, with the use of high-resolution forcing winds WRF over ECMWF, although the overestimation of wave energy on high frequencies due to overestimated WRF winds remains as a challenge in forecasting. The analysis also shows the importance of accurate wave forecast during a short-duration sudden wind (~12 m/s) occurrence in southern Tamil Nadu near Rameswaram during the pre-monsoon period. Low pressure forms over Tamil Nadu due to the land surface heating, resulting in a sudden increase of winds. High winds and steep waves which cause damage to the property of the coastal community near Rameswaram also were well simulated in the high-resolution forecast system with WRF winds.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the director, INCOIS, for encouraging us to carry out this study. The in situ data for this analysis were provided by INCOIS, MoES, INDIA. The authors wish to thank STAR (Centre for Satellite Application and Research) under NESDIS for providing spatial varying ASCAT wind fields. Thanks are also due to Mr Nagaraju Chilukotti, Mr Arun N, C Jaya Kumar and Ramesh for providing their valuable support. As a whole, the authors are especially thankful to the fisherfolk of Rameswaram for providing feedback on the kondalkattu events. This manuscript is ESSO-INCOIS contribution with number 344.

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Correspondence to P Sirisha.

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Sirisha, P., Remya, P.G., Modi, A. et al. Evaluation of the impact of high-resolution winds on the coastal waves. J Earth Syst Sci 128, 226 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1247-x

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