Global Change Master Directory (GCMD)

Data Sets

Services / Tools

Ancillary Descriptions

Are you using a browser that doesn't support JavaScript or have you disabled JavaScript?

If you have disabled JavaScript, you must re-enable JavaScript to use this page.
Or you can view this record using the Text Only Format.

SOWM Hindcast Wind and Wave Climatology for North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Mediterranean (DSI-9786)

Entry ID: gov.noaa.ncdc.C00007

[ Update this Record ]

Summary

Abstract: SOWM Hindcast Wind and Wave Climatology for North Pacific, North Atlantic and Mediterranean is historical digital data set DSI-9786, archived at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). It is a digital ocean atlas. SOWM is the Spectral Ocean Wave Model, a computer software methodology which was developed by Dr. Willard J. Pierson and others and adopted in December 1974 by what was then the US ... Navy Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FLENUMOCEANCEN). FLENUMOCEANCEN was a predecessor of the current Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC). SOWM is a computer-based procedure that produces a directional variance spectrum at specified grid points that are a maximum of 180 nautical miles apart. This spectrum defines the sea surface at each grid point through a two dimensional matrix (direction/ frequency) of 12 directions and 15 frequency bands. The David Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center (DTNSRDC), a predecessor to the US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), with Operations Research, Inc. (ORI), developed computer programs to derive a number of numerical parameters from the SOWM spectral wave data. The NCDC used many of the concepts from these programs and others written by FLENUMOCEANCEN to devise a parameterization program that was used for this atlas (DSI-9786). This atlas contains climatological summaries for seven parameters: wind speed and direction, wave height, wave direction, wave slope code, modal wave period, and wave directionality. The first four parameters had appeared in US Navy climatologies. The latter three parameters had not appeared, because they cannot be directly derived from visual observations. However, they can be very important operating considerations. Ship rolling and stability is affected by the wave slope of higher waves. Wave slope of a regular wave is defined as the ratio of wave height to wave length. The modal wave period is the period associated with the maximum wave energy in the wave spectrum. Modal wave periods associated with wavelengths of about 0.75 and 1.25 ship lengths (depending on ship course and speed) can cause resonance pitching and heaving. The modal wave is not necessarily equal to the wave period associated with the higher of the two waves, the sea or the swell as summarized in past US Navy climatologies (US Navy, 1974). Wave directionality is the uniformity of the direction of movement of the waves. If the waves are all moving in a uniform direction, then the directionality is one. When there is no preferred direction of wave movement (a completely confused sea state), the directionality is zero. Obviously, ship response and maneuverability can be affected by the directional spread of the wave energy. Data in this atlas are derived using winds and waves from the period January 1973 to December 1982, i.e. 10 years.

Purpose: To make a wide range of climatic data available to researchers and the public.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: data set

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: Ground Condition

Related URL

Link: VIEW EXTENDED METADATA

Description: View Source Metadata document from the Metadata Manager and Repository (NMMR).

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 68.0

S: 3.0

E: 37.0

W: 130.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Dataset Title: SOWM Hindcast Wind and Wave Climatology for North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Mediterranean (DSI-9786)

Dataset Release Date: Unknown

Data Presentation Form: atlas

Online Resource: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1973-01-01

Stop Date: 1982-12-31

Science Keywords

OCEANS > OCEAN WAVES > SEA STATE

OCEANS > OCEAN WAVES > SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT

ISO Topic Category

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

OCEANS

Platform

SHIPS

Instrument

ANEMOMETERS

WAVE HEIGHT GAUGES

WIND VANES

VISUAL OBSERVATIONS

Project

ESIP > Earth Science Information Partners Program

Quality ATTRIBUTE ACCURACY REPORT: Not provided

LOGICAL CONSISTENCY REPORT: Unknown

COMPLETENESS REPORT: Completeness information not available.

LINEAGE/PROCESS STEP:
PROCESS DESCRIPTION: Not derived from another source.
PROCESS DATE: Unknown

Access Constraints ACCESS CONSTRAINTS: None

DISTRIBUTION LIABILITY: Every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of current NOAA quality control procedures. NOAA can only certify that the data provided to its customers is an authentic copy of the records which were accepted for inclusion in NOAA archives. NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

Use Constraints None

Ancillary Keywords

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Data Center URL: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/
Dataset ID: ______DSI-9786 ____

Data Center Personnel
Name: NCDC CUSTOMER SERVICE Phone: 828-271-4800 Fax: 828-271-4876 Email: ncdc.orders at noaa.gov Contact Address: 151 Patton Avenue, Room 120 City: Asheville Province or State: NC Postal Code: 28801-5001 Country: USA