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WHACS: An Improved Global Wave Hindcast for the Australian Climate Service
Grant Smith1, Alberto Meucci2,3, Claire Spillman4
1Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. grant.smith@bom.gov.au.
Scientific Data
|February 21, 2026
Summary
The Wave Hindcast for ACS (WHACS) dataset provides global wave conditions from 1979 to present. This valuable resource aids coastal management, climate research, and renewable energy planning.
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Climate Science
- Coastal Engineering
Background:
- Understanding historical wave conditions is crucial for coastal management, climate research, and renewable energy.
- Accurate wave data is needed for localized simulations and informed decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multi-decadal global wind-wave hindcast dataset (WHACS) spanning 1979 to near present.
- To provide insights into historical wave conditions and serve as boundary forcing for localized simulations.
Main Methods:
- Developed a near-global spherical multi-cell (SMC) grid dataset aligned with operational wave forecast models.
- Calibrated the dataset to improve the representation of extreme winds and extreme wave conditions.
- Generated hourly bulk and spectral wave parameters on the native SMC grid and regridded global/regional outputs.
Main Results:
- The WHACS dataset offers comprehensive historical wave data from 1979 to the present.
- Includes multi-decadal hourly bulk and spectral wave parameters across a near-global grid.
- Provides gridded spectral data for the Indo-Pacific exclusive economic zones.
Conclusions:
- WHACS enhances understanding of historical wave climate, supporting coastal management and climate research.
- The dataset is a valuable tool for renewable energy project assessments and improving safety and resilience.
- Informed decisions regarding wave conditions can be made by communities and industries using WHACS data.
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