A synthetic trapped-fetch wave climatology for the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific

A Lagrangian trapped-fetch wave (TFW) model based on the significant wave method and driven by a parametric wind model has shown utility in predicting extreme waves associated with tropical cyclones (TCs). The model inputs are TC track and intensity, readily available for historical TCs, and statistical estimates of parameters such as radius of maximum winds.

The model was run for all North Atlantic TCs from 1851–2004. The TFWs for the 100-year period 1905-2004 were sorted into 2^o x 2^o latitude cells. For each cell, probability and cumulative frequency for significant wave height, wave period, hours of wave growth, and distance traveled during growth were determined. In addition, the frequency of TFW directions was analyzed.

In the Eastern Pacific the 1949–2003 period was modeled and a 50-year analysis from 1954–2003 performed.

A review of the modeling technique, post-processing procedures, and graphical user interfaces built to view individual TC TFWs and the cell analysis will be presented. Operational utility will be discussed.