Assessment of the Storm Avoidance Effect on the Wave Climate along the Main North Atlantic Routes

The wave climate along the main transoceanic routes of the North Atlantic sub basin is determined using three different databases: two derived by numerical models in the HIPOCAS and ERA40 databases and one from Voluntary Observing Ships. For each route the distribution of the mean significant wave h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Navigation
Main Authors: Vettor, Roberto, Soares, C. Guedes
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s037346331500048x
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S037346331500048X
Description
Summary:The wave climate along the main transoceanic routes of the North Atlantic sub basin is determined using three different databases: two derived by numerical models in the HIPOCAS and ERA40 databases and one from Voluntary Observing Ships. For each route the distribution of the mean significant wave height along the path is computed as well as the specific scatter diagram. In addition an assessment of the relative wave heading probability is provided. The results highlight a bias in the visual observations especially in the summer and, more in general, for low sea states. The correction of this bias allows better understanding of rough weather avoidance by ships and to determine a storm avoidance correction.