IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE WAVEWATCH III® MULTI-1 WEBSITE
The EMC WAVEWATCH III ® global wave model Multi-1 was
decommissioned in NCEP operations on March 22, 2021. It has been
replaced by a new configuration of the WAVEWATCH III global wave
model, called GFS-Wave, and coupled to the
Global Forecast System (GFSv16), as part of the
Unified Forecast System.
THIS WEBSITE IS NOT DISPLAYING MULTI-1 OR GFS-WAVE GRAPHICS
It is being maintained for archival and verification purposes only.
Here are the details (PDF) on how this will affect users of this site.
Output of the new GFS-Wave model is available on NOMADS and Production FTP
*under gfs.YYYYMMDD/CC/wave/gridded and gfs.YYYYMMDD/CC/wave/station
Graphics of the GFS-Wave model output will become available some time in April on the
Model Analysis and Guidance (MAG) site under GFS-Wave. Note that the current WW3 link on that page is to the
discontinued Multi-1 wave model and will not be updated.
NOTICE:
The Global Wave Ensemble System (GWES) was discontinued on 23
Sep 2020 and has been replaced by an improved GEFS-Waves,
consisting of a one-way nesting of the WAVEWATCH III system with
the recently upgraded GFS Ensemble Forecast System. The NOAA
press release on the upgrade is
here, and information on GEFS is available
here.
The GEFSv12 Service Change Notice (issued 8/20/2020, PDF) is
here, and you can find information on the evaluation of the GEFS-Waves portion
of the GEFS system in the
Model Evaluation Group (MEG) Summary page on the
GEFSv12 upgrade
here.
The model data is available four times a day (0, 6, 12, 18)Z from:
-
Production FTP (gefs.YYYYMMDD -->cycle-->waves)
-
NOMADS (Ocean Models-->GFS Ensemble Wave-->(grib filter or https file download).
Details on the products can be found
here (scroll down to GEFS - Wave - Global).
WAVEWATCH III™ © 2009 National Weather Service (NWS), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, all rights reserved.
WAVEWATCH III™ is a trademark of the NWS.
No unauthorized use without permission.
Model Description
WAVEWATCH III™ (Tolman 1997, 1999a, 2009) is a third generation wave
model developed at NOAA/NCEP in the spirit of the WAM model (WAMDIG 1988,
Komen et al. 1994). It is a further development of the model
WAVEWATCH, as developed at Delft University of Technology (Tolman 1989, 1991a)
and WAVEWATCH II, developed at NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center (e.g., Tolman
1992). WAVEWATCH III™, however, differs from its predecessors in many
important points such as the governing equations, the model structure, the
numerical methods and the physical parameterizations. Furthermore, with model
version 3.14, WAVEWATCH III™ is evolving from a wave model into a wave
modeling framework, which allows for easy development of additional physical
and numerical approaches to wave modeling.
WAVEWATCH III™ solves the random phase spectral action density balance
equation for wavenumber-direction spectra. The implicit assumption of this
equation is that properties of medium (water depth and current) as well as the
wave field itself vary on time and space scales that are much larger than the
variation scales of a single wave. With version 3.14 some source term options
for extremely shallow water (surf zone) have been included, as well as wetting
and drying of grid points. Whereas the surf-zone physics implemented so far
are still fairly rudimentary, it does imply that the wave model can now be
applied to arbitrary shallow water.
Model Features
Physical features:
- The governing equations of WAVEWATCH III™ include
refraction and straining of the wave field due to temporal and spatial
variations of the mean water depth and of the mean current (tides, surges
etc.), when applicable.
- Parameterizations of physical processes (source terms)
include wave growth and decay due to the actions of wind, nonlinear resonant
interactions, dissipation (`whitecapping'), bottom friction, surf-breaking
(i.e., depth-induced breaking) and scattering due to wave-bottom
interactions. The model is prepared for triad interactions and is prepared for
other, as of yet undefined source terms, but the latter have not been
implemented yet. WAM cycle 4, bottom scattering,
surf zone physics and wetting/drying new in model version 3.14.
- Wave propagation is considered to be linear. Relevant
nonlinear effects such as resonant interactions are, therefore, included in
the source terms (physics).
- The model includes several alleviation methods for the Garden
Sprinkler Effect (Booij and Holthuijsen, 1987, Tolman, 2002c).
- The model includes sub-grid representation of unresolved
islands (Tolman 2002e). A software package based on Matlab®
has been developed to automate generation of grids including
obstructions due to unresolved islands (Chawla and Tolman, 2007, 2008). Grid generation package first distributed with model
version 3.14 through model distribution web page (see below).
- The model includes options for choosing various term packages,
some intended for operations, others for research. The source term packages
are selected at the compile level.
- The model includes dynamically updated ice coverage.
- The model is prepared for data assimilation, but no data
assimilation package is provided with the present distribution of the source
code.
- Spectral partitioning is now available for post-processing of
point output, or for the entire wave model grid using the Vincent and Soille
(1991) algorithm (Hanson and Jenssen, 2004; Hanson et al , 2006,
2009). New in model version 3.14
Numerical features:
- The model is written in ANSI standard FORTRAN 90, fully
modular and fully allocatable.
- The model uses a regularly spaced longitude-latitude grid
(longitude and latitude increment do not need to be equal) and, optionally, a
Cartesian grid.
- The model is set up for traditional one-way nesting, where
model grids are run as separate models consecutively, starting with the models
with the lowest spatial resolution..
- With model version 3.14, a `mosaic' approach is available,
where an arbitrary number of grids can be considered with full two-way
interactions between all grids, effectively making the mosaic of grids operate
as a single model with variable spatial resolution (Tolman, 2006, 2008). New in model version 3.14.
- The mosaic approach introduced in version 3.14 only considers
static grids. Relocatable grids within the mosaic are being developed.
Already available in model version 3.14 is an approach where (a mosaic of
grids) moves along a user-defined path. This allows for moving grid modeling
of hurricanes away from the coast (Tolman and Alves, 2005). New in model version 3.14
- Wave energy spectra are discretized using a constant
directional increment (covering all directions), and a spatially varying
wavenumber grid. The latter grid corresponds to an invariant logarithmic
intrinsic frequency grid (Tolman and Booij 1998).
- Both a first order accurate and third order accurate numerical
scheme are available to describe wave propagation (Tolman 1995). The
propagation scheme is selected at the compile level.
- The source terms are integrated in time using a dynamically
adjusted time stepping algorithm, which concentrates computational efforts in
conditions with rapid spectral changes (Tolman 1992, 1997, 1999a, 2009).
- The model can optionally be compiled to include shared memory
parallelisms using OpenMP compiler directives.
- The model can optionally be compiled for a distributed memory
environment using the Message Passing Interface (MPI, see Tolman 2002a).
Output options:
- Gridded fields of 31 input and mean wave parameters such as
the significant wave height, directions, frequencies etc. Up from 18 in model version 2.22
- Output of wave spectra at selected locations.
- Output of wave spectra along arbitrary tracks.
- Up to 9 restart files per model run.
- Files with boundary data for up to 9 separate nested runs in a
one-way nested model approach where models are run independently. In the
mosaic approach, input boundary data for each grid in the mosaic can be dumped
for later use.
- Partitioned wave field information is available for the full
model grid or sub-sets and sub-sampled grids.
New in model version 3.14.
- The model provides binary or ASCII output, as well as output
for the GrADS graphics package by means of post processing. Postprocessors
for GRIB data are available, but will require GRIB packing libraries.
Documentation and Source Code
The documentation of WAVEWATCH III™ is available on line in pdf
files. For each released model version an errata page is maintained, which is
the sole source of distributing errors and fixes of the model. To receive
information on model changes etc, subscribe to the
MMAB mailing list.
Model version 1.15:
- Tolman , H. L, 1997: User manual and system documentation of
WAVEWATCH-III version 1.15. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note 151,
97 pp. (0.74MB PDF file). The
source code of this model has never been distributed.
Model version 1.18:
- Tolman , H. L, 1999a: User manual and system documentation of
WAVEWATCH-III version 1.18. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note 166
, 110 pp. (0.76MB PDF
file).
- Tolman , H. L, 1999b: WAVEWATCH-III version 1.18: Generating
GRIB files. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note 167, 7 pp. (0.15MB PDF file)
- Tolman , H. L, 1999c: WAVEWATCH-III version 1.18:
Post-processing using NCAR graphics. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note
168, 9 pp. (0.15MB PDF
file)
- Version 1.18, errata,
problems and fixes. With the release of model version 2.22, the older code
is no longer maintained, and this web site is no longer updated.
Model version 2.22 :
- Tolman, 2002g: User manual and system documentation of
WAVEWATCH-III version 2.22. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / MMAB Technical Note
222, 133 pp. (0.89MB PDF
file).
- Version 2.22, errata,
problems and fixes. With the release of model version 3.14, the older code
is no longer maintained, and this web site is no longer updated.
Model version 3.14 :
- Chawla and Tolman, 2007: Automated grid generation for
WAVEWATCH III. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / MMAB Technical Note 254, 71 pp. (23.3MB pdf file).
- Tolman, 2009: User manual and system documentation of
WAVEWATCH III™ version 3.14. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / MMAB Technical Note
276, 194 pp + Appendices. (0.83MB pdf file).
- Tolman, 2010: WAVEWATCH III (R) development best practices
Ver. 0.1. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / MMAB Technical Note 286, 19 pp. (0.13MB pdf file).
- Version 3.14, errata,
problems and fixes.
-
Version 3.14-11, changes and diff file..
-
Version 3.14-12, changes and diff file..
-
Version 3.14-13, changes and diff file..
-
Version 3.14-14, changes and diff file..
-
diff file for patching v3.14-14 directly onto v3.14-10 (last public release).
Model distribution
Model versions 1.18 and 2.22 have been distributed as public domain software,
and can be found at the
previous WAVEWATCH source code ftp site Model versions
3.14 through 5.16 WAVEWATCH III™ was distributed under an
open source style license through a password protected distribution site.
Starting with version 6.07, WAVEWATCH III&trade is distributed using
GitHub. This means that users and developers are no longer required
to submit requests for usernames and passwords to access the software
package.
The WAVEWATCH III®
project page is
here.
The latest release (currently at 6.07) is available
as a compressed tarball or zipfile from the project page.
To help users and developers navigate the new repositories, we have
created two sets of guidelines in GitHub to help you navigate our
community modeling framework, one for users and the other for
developers:
- If you are a user and would like to access the code for
applications and do not plan to engage in development work, see the
User Guide.
- If you are a developer and would like to add a new feature
to the code, see the
Developer
Guide.
The
WW3 GitHub wiki hosts a description
of the model, its main features, output options, user
and developer guides, technical documentation and latest news.
Let's Go Modeling!
Model development
The model is subject to continuous development. The following new features are
presently being incorporated in WAVEWATCH III™ at NCEP and by our
partners, or are considered for incorporation in the future.
- Unifying Cartesian and spherical grid approaches, and
expanding to curvilinear grids (NRL Stennis).
- Unstructured grid options (developed at SHOM, method of Aron
Roland).
- Relocatable grids in mosaic approach (NCEP).
- Alternative propagation schemes (second order scheme from
MetOffice).
- Expanded list of output parameters, particularly for model
coupling.
- ESMF wrapper to facilitate model coupling (NRL Stennis),
- Alternative source term parameterizations (many from NOPP
projects and others).
- New GSE alleviation (NCEP).
- Quasi-steady model integration compatable with SWAN approach (NCEP).
New releases will generally become available after implementation of a new
model version at NCEP. Research model versions may be made available to those
interested in and committed to basic model development. Contact NCEP.EMC.wavewatch@NOAA.gov for
requests to get access to the research versions of the model.
References
Booij, N. and L. H. Holthuijsen, 1987: Propagation of ocean
waves in discrete spectral wave models. J. Comp. Phys., 68,
307-326.
Chawla, A., and
H. L. Tolman, 2007: Automated grid generation for WAVEWATCH III. NOAA /
NWS / NCEP / MMAB Technical Note 254, 71 pp.
Chawla, A., and H. L. Tolman, 2008: Obstruction grids for
spectral wave models, Ocean Modelling, 22, 12-25.
Komen, G. J., L. Cavaleri, M. Donelan, K. Hasselmann,
S. Hasselmann and P. A. E. M. Janssen, 1994: Dynamics and Modelling of
Ocean Waves. Cambridge University Press, 532 pp.
Chawla, A., and
H. L. Tolman, 2007: Automated grid generation for WAVEWATCH III. NOAA /
NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note 254, 71 pp..
Chawla, A. and H. L. Tolman, 2008: Obstruction grids for wave
models. Ocean Modelling, 22, 12-25.
Hanson, J. L. and R. E. Jensen, 2004: Wave system diagnostics
for numerical wave models. In 8th International
Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting, JCOMM Tech. Rep. 29,
WMO/TD-No.1319.
Hanson, J.L., B. A. Tracy, H. L. Tolman and D. Scott, 2006:
Pacific hindcast performance evaluation of three numerical wave models. in
9th International Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and
Forecasting, JCOMM Tech.Rep.34. Paper A2.
Hanson, J. L., B. A. Tracy, H. L. Tolman and R. D. Scott, 2009:
Pacific hindcast performance of three numerical wave models,
J. Atmos. Oceanic Techn., In Press.
Tolman, H. L., 1989: The numerical model WAVEWATCH: a third
generation model for the hindcasting of wind waves on tides in shelf
seas. Communications on Hydraulic and Geotechnical Engineering, Delft
Univ. of Techn., ISSN 0169-6548, Rep. no. 89-2, 72 pp.
Tolman, H. L., 1991a: A third-generation model for wind waves
on slowly varying, unsteady and inhomogeneous depths and currents.
J. Phys. Oceanogr. , 21, 782-797
Tolman, H. L., 1991b: Effects of tides and storm surges on
North Sea wind waves. J. Phys. Oceanogr. , 21, 766-781
Tolman, H. L., 1992: Effects of numerics on the physics in a
third-generation wind-wave model. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 22,
1095-1111.
Tolman, H. L., 1995: On the selection of propagation schemes
for a spectral wind wave model. NWS/NCEP Office Note 411, 30 pp. +
figures.
Tolman, H. L.,
1997: User manual and system documentation of WAVEWATCH-III version
1.15. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note 151, 97 pp. (0.74MB PDF
file).
Tolman, H. L.,
1999a: User manual and system documentation of WAVEWATCH-III version
1.18. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note 166, 110 pp. (0.76Mb pdf
file).
Tolman, H. L.,
1999b: WAVEWATCH-III version 1.18: Generating GRIB files. NOAA / NWS /
NCEP / OMB Technical Note 167, 7 pp. (0.15MB pdf file)
Tolman, H. L.,
1999c: WAVEWATCH-III version 1.18: Post-processing using NCAR
graphics. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note 168, 9 pp. (0.15Mb pdf
file).
Tolman, H. L., 2001: Improving propagation in ocean wave
models. Ocean Wave Measurement and Analysis, San Francisco, CA,
B. L. Edge and J. M. Hemsley, Eds., ASCE, 507-516.
Tolman, H. L., 2002a: Distributed memory concepts in the wave
model WAVEWATCH III. Parallel Computing, 28, 35-52.
Tolman, H. L.,
2002b: Validation of WAVEWATCH III version 1.15 for a global domain. NOAA
/ NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note Nr. 213, 33 pp. (2.7Mb pdf file).
Tolman, H. L., 2002c: Alleviating the Garden Sprinkler Effect
in wind wave models. Ocean Modelling, 4, 269-289.
Tolman, H.L. 2002d: Limiters in third-generation wind wave
models. Global Atmosphere and Ocean. System, 8, 67-83.
Tolman, H. L., 2002f: Testing of WAVEWATCH III version 2.22 in
NCEP's NWW3 ocean wave model suite. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / OMB Technical Note
Nr. 214, 99 pp. (13 Mb pdf file in color or gresyscales).
Tolman, H. L.,
2002g: User manual and system documentation of WAVEWATCH-III version
2.22. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / MMAB Technical Note 222, 133 pp. (0.89Mb pdf
file).
Tolman, H. L., 2003: Treatment of unresolved islands and ice in
wind wave models. Ocean Modelling, 5, 219-231.
Tolman, H. L.,
2006: Development of a multi-grid version of WAVEWATCH III. NOAA / NWS /
NCEP / MMAB Technical Note 256, 88 pp.+ Appendices.
Tolman, H. L., 2008: A mosaic approach to wind wave
modeling. Ocean Modelling, 25, 35-47.
Tolman, H. L.,
2009: User manual and system documentation of WAVEWATCH III version
3.14. NOAA / NWS / NCEP / MMAB Technical Note 276, 194 pp.+ Appendices
(0.83Mb pdf file).
Tolman, H. L., and J. H, G, M. Alves, 2005: Numerical modeling
of wind waves generated by tropical cyclones using moving grids. Ocean
Modelling, 9, 305-323.
Tolman, H. L., B. Balasubramaniyan, L. D. Burroughs,
D. V. Chalikov, Y. Y. Chao, H. S. Chen, and V. M. Gerald, 2002: Development
and implementation of wind generated ocean surface wave models at
NCEP. Weather and Forecasting, 17, 311-333.
Tolman, H. L., and N. Booij, 1998: Modeling wind waves using
wavenumber-direction spectra and a variable wavenumber grid. The Global
Atmosphere and Ocean System, 6, 295-309.
Tolman, H. L. and D. Chalikov, 1996: Source terms in a
third-generation wind-wave model. J. Phys. Oceanogr, 26,
2497-2518.
Vincent, L. and P. Soille, 1991: Watersheds in digital spaces:
An efficient algorithm based on immersion simulations. IEEE Transactions of
Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 13, 583-598.
WAMDIG 1988: The WAM model - A third generation ocean wave
prediction model. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 18,
1775-1810.
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