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Global ocean mean wave period data: Validation and description

2005; American Geophysical Union; Volume: 110; Issue: C2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1029/2004jc002631

2156-2202

Sofía Caires, Andreas Sterl, Christine Gommenginger,

Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research

A global comparison of altimeter and ERA‐40 mean wave period data is performed for the first time. Altimeter and ERA‐40 mean wave period are shown to compare well in non‐swell‐dominated conditions. Triply collocated altimeter, buoy, and ERA‐40 data show that the variance of the random errors is bigger for the ERA‐40 data and smaller for the buoy data. A new expression is given to relate altimeter data to wave period in wind‐dominated conditions. Provided this correction is applied, altimeter data are adequate for the most needed validation of global model mean wave period data in non‐swell‐dominated conditions. Triply collocated altimeter, buoy, and ERA‐40 also reveal that altimeter mean wave period is reliable even in swell conditions for moderate to high winds, in contrast to previous suggestions which limited its validity to wind‐dominated seas.