Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Unraveling Climatic Wind and Wave Trends in the Red Sea Using Wave Spectra Partitioning

Sabique Langodan Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

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Luigi Cavaleri Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR-ISMAR, Venice, Italy

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Angela Pomaro Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR-ISMAR, Venice, Italy

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Jesus Portilla Department of Mechanical Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador

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Yasser Abualnaja Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

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Ibrahim Hoteit Physical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

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Print Publication:
01 Mar 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0295.1
Page(s):
1881–1895
Restricted access

Abstract

The wind and wave climatology of the Red Sea is derived from a validated 30-yr high-resolution model simulation. After describing the relevant features of the basin, the main wind and wave systems are identified by using an innovative spectral partition technique to explain their genesis and characteristics. In the northern part of the sea, wind and waves of the same intensity are present throughout the year, while the central and southern zones are characterized by a marked seasonality. The partition technique allows the association of a general decrease in the energy of the different wave systems with a specific weather pattern. The most intense decrease is found in the northern storms, which are associated with meteorological pulses from the Mediterranean Sea.

© 2018 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Ibrahim Hoteit, ibrahim.hoteit@kaust.edu

Abstract

The wind and wave climatology of the Red Sea is derived from a validated 30-yr high-resolution model simulation. After describing the relevant features of the basin, the main wind and wave systems are identified by using an innovative spectral partition technique to explain their genesis and characteristics. In the northern part of the sea, wind and waves of the same intensity are present throughout the year, while the central and southern zones are characterized by a marked seasonality. The partition technique allows the association of a general decrease in the energy of the different wave systems with a specific weather pattern. The most intense decrease is found in the northern storms, which are associated with meteorological pulses from the Mediterranean Sea.

© 2018 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Ibrahim Hoteit, ibrahim.hoteit@kaust.edu
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