Wave power trends along the U.S. coastline: in situ measurements and model hindcast estimates

Abstract

Observational data are successfully assessed to investigate wave power (wave energy flux per unit of wave-crest) trends within four coastal regions around the US, a parameter that is deemed vital to those responsible for coastal protection and community resilience. This study tests for shifting observational inter-annual wave power trends using a newly developed, unique, United States Army Corps of Engineers Quality Controlled Consistent Measurement Archive, and offers a viable methodology to remove documented observational time series data discontinuations. This study is one of the first to show spatially and temporally comparative observational and model wave power results, providing new information on the accuracy of model wave power estimates, while showcasing in situ wave power trends at 29 sites around the U.S. coastline. Overall, the majority of the eastern Pacific Ocean and Hawaii wave power trends are downward, with mixed slope wave power trends apparent within the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Observational and model results are similar with respect to timing, but not magnitude, of wave power peaks in long-term inter-annual trends, with the moored buoy data presenting smaller wave power ranges for two (eastern Pacific Ocean and Hawaii) of the four regions. Additionally, the detection of a noticeable variability in the wave power trend direction within each region suggests that site-specific wave power trends should not be generalised to represent a large region. This work demonstrates that observational data are essential in local and regional wave climate studies to accurately estimate wave power for coastal planners and engineers.