South China Sea Wave Characteristics During Typhoon Muifa Passage in Winter 2004

Abstract

Ocean wave characteristics in the western Atlantic Ocean (Hurricane Region) to tropical cyclones have been investigated extensively, but not the regional seas in the western Pacific such as the South China Sea (Typhoon Region). This is due to the lack of observational and modeling studies in western Pacific regional seas. To fill this gap, Wavewatch-III (WW3) is used to study the response of the South China Sea (SCS) to Typhoon Muifa (2004). The WW3 model is integrated from the JONSWAP wave spectra (Hasselmann et al. 1973, 1980) using NASA Quikscatter winds and tropical cyclone wind profile model during Typhoon Muifa passage from 0000UTC 16 on November to 1200UTC on 25 November 2004. This study shows strong similarities in the responses between Hurricane and Typhoon Regions, including strong asymmetry in the significant wave height (Hs) along the typhoon translation track with the maximum Hs in the right-front quadrant of the typhoon center, and asymmetry in the directional wave spectra at different locations (frontward, backward, rightward, leftward) around the typhoon center. The unique features of the SCS wave characteristics to Muifa are also discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA478909

Entities

People

  • Kuo-feng Cheng
  • Peter Cheng Chu

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Frequency
  • Grids
  • High Resolution
  • North Pacific Ocean
  • Ocean Waves
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Philippine Sea
  • South China Sea
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar
  • Topography
  • Tropical Cyclones
  • Wave Packets
  • Wave Propagation
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology