Click here for the MMAB home page MMAB Operational Wave Models

NOTICE: Due to scheduled maintenance of our backup supercomputer, there will be no web site updates to our model graphics pages from Monday 12 August through Friday 16 August. The production models are running normally on our primary supercomputer and our production FTP server and NOMADS data server are being updated. The only impact is to our post-processed graphical products displayed from this server. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Some WW3 graphics may be found on the NCO Model Guidance site
Select Model Type of WW3 and choose a Model Area.

The operational ocean wave predictions of NOAA/NWS/NCEP use the wave model WAVEWATCH III^® using operational NCEP products as input.

Detailed description of the WAVEWATCH III^® model
and source code distribution.

The model is run four times a day: 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, and 18Z. Each run starts with 9-, 6- and 3-hour hindcasts and produces forecasts of every hour from the initial time out to 120 hours, and then forecasts at 3-hour intervals out to 180 hours.

The global wave model consists of global and regional nested grids. As background information, a list of selected references and a chronological list of model changes are available. Finally, validation data are available for the multigrid model.

Click on image to enlarge

Forecast Zones
Click to open the Product Viewer for the selected zone (latest model run)

NOAA WAVEWATCH III^® Hindcast and Reanalysis Archives

MMAB currently maintains two classes of WAVEWATCH III^® hindcasts.

• A thirty-year hindcast generated from the NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis and Reforecast (CFSRR) homogeneous dataset of hourly high-resolution winds. The time period covers from 1979 through 2009. This is a true hindcast generated with a single version of the model and a statistically consistent forcing wind field, and is suitable for use in climate studies.
• An ongoing data set produced by rerunning the model from the operational wind fields to produce best-estimate nowcast datasets. This is a statistically inhomogeneous hindcast data set, because the underlying models are periodically updated. Therefore this data set should not be used for climate studies.

Detailed descriptions of the hindcasts and reanalyses, with links to the datasets, validation statistics from buoy match-ups, and visualizations of the model data fields, can be found in the WAVEWATCH III^® Hindcast and Reanalysis Archives

WAVEWATCH III^® Tutorials

Two COMET modules are available regarding WAVEWATCH III^® and analysis of ocean swell:

• Operational Use of WAVEWATCH III^®
• Analyzing Ocean Swell

Disclaimer

While WAVEWATCH III^® is an operational model, we cannot guarantee the timeliness or accuracy of the model data and figures offered on this site. Please see our disclaimer for more information.

Questions or Comments?

We welcome any questions or comments you may have on the WAVEWATCH III^® system.

Sign up for the MMAB mailing list for updates and information on these products.

For questions or problems with the website please contact us.