Performance Assessment of a Coupled Circulation–Wave Modelling System for the Northwest Atlantic

• Published in: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
• Main Authors: Colin J. Hughes, Jinyu Sheng, William Perrie, Guoqiang Liu
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2025
• Subjects: wave-current interactions; Langmuir turbulence; wave breaking; northwest Atlantic Ocean; performance; Langmuir; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020239

We present a modified version of a coupled circulation–wave modelling system for the northwest Atlantic (CWMS-NWA) by including additional physics associated with wave–current interactions. The latest modifications include a parameterization of Langmuir turbulence and surface flux of turbulent kinetic energy from wave breaking in vertical mixing. The performance of the modified version of CWMS-NWA during Hurricane Arthur in 2014 is assessed using in situ measurements and satellite data. Several error statistics are used to evaluate the model performance, including correlation (R), root mean square error (RMSE), normalized model variance of model errors (γ2) and relative bias (RB). It is found that the simulated surface waves (R ≈ 94.0%, RMSE ≈ 27.5 cm, γ2≈ 0.16) and surface elevations (R ≈ 97.3%, RMSE ≈ 24.0 cm, γ2≈ 0.07) are in a good agreement with observations. The large-scale circulation, hydrography and associated storm-induced changes in the upper ocean during Arthur are reproduced satisfactorily by the modified version of CWMS-NWA. Relative to satellite observations of the daily averaged sea surface temperature (SST), the model reproduces large-scale features as demonstrated by the error metrics: R ≈ 97.8%, RMSE ≈ 1.6 °C and RB ≈ 8.6 ×10−3°C.