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Characteristics and variability of the nearshore wave resource on the U.S. West Coast

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  • Yang, Zhaoqing
  • García-Medina, Gabriel
  • Wu, Wei-Cheng
  • Wang, Taiping

Abstract

Characterizing the nearshore wave resource at a regional scale poses a great challenge because high-quality wave data are required. This paper presents a detailed analysis of nearshore wave climate and resource characterization on the U.S. West Coast based on a 32-year, regional wave hindcast. Resource characterization closely followed the International Electrotechnical Commission standards. The wave hindcast data were generated from an unstructured-grid SWAN model with approximately 300 m grid resolution in the nearshore region. Statistics of six IEC wave resource parameters at the 50 m water depth were calculated for four sub-regions along the coast, including Washington, Oregon, and Northern and Southern California. Results indicate that the Washington and Oregon coast has a similar nearshore wave resource. The wave resource in Southern California is significantly less than that of the Washington and Oregon coast. Alongshore and cross-shore variabilities of wave power were assessed. Temporal variability, at seasonal, inter-annual, and decadal scales were analyzed. Overall, strong seasonal variation is observed; high wave energy occurs in the winter months and calm seas in the summer. Finally, extreme environmental conditions, i.e., the 100-year extreme environmental contours, for different locations along the West Coast were investigated.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Zhaoqing & García-Medina, Gabriel & Wu, Wei-Cheng & Wang, Taiping, 2020. "Characteristics and variability of the nearshore wave resource on the U.S. West Coast," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:203:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220309257
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.117818
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    5. Yang, Zhaoqing & García Medina, Gabriel & Neary, Vincent S. & Ahn, Seongho & Kilcher, Levi & Bharath, Aidan, 2023. "Multi-decade high-resolution regional hindcasts for wave energy resource characterization in U.S. coastal waters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 803-817.
    6. García Medina, Gabriel & Yang, Zhaoqing & Li, Ning & Cheung, Kwok Fai & Lutu-McMoore, Elinor, 2023. "Wave climate and energy resources in American Samoa from a 42-year high-resolution hindcast," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 604-617.
    7. Kilcher, Levi & García Medina, Gabriel & Yang, Zhaoqing, 2023. "A scalable wave resource assessment methodology: Application to U.S. waters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
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    9. Ahn, Seongho & Neary, Vincent S. & Ha, Taemin, 2023. "A practical method for modeling temporally-averaged ocean wave frequency-directional spectra for characterizing wave energy climates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 499-511.
    10. Delpey, Matthias & Lastiri, Ximun & Abadie, Stéphane & Roeber, Volker & Maron, Philippe & Liria, Pedro & Mader, Julien, 2021. "Characterization of the wave resource variability in the French Basque coastal area based on a high-resolution hindcast," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 79-95.
    11. Rusu, Liliana, 2022. "The near future expected wave power in the coastal environment of the Iberian Peninsula," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 657-669.
    12. Ahn, Seongho & Neary, Vincent S. & Allahdadi, Mohammad Nabi & He, Ruoying, 2021. "Nearshore wave energy resource characterization along the East Coast of the United States," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1212-1224.
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