Author:
Katsafados P.,Papadopoulos A.,Korres G.,Varlas G.
Abstract
Abstract. It is commonly accepted that there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the air–sea interaction processes and their feedbacks. In this sense it is absolutely important to develop advanced numerical prediction systems that treat the atmosphere and the ocean as a unified system. The realistic description and understanding of the exchange processes near the ocean surface, requires the exact knowledge of the sea state and its evolution. This can be achieved by considering the sea surface and the atmosphere as a continuously cross talking dynamic system. Therefore, this study aims to present the effort towards developing a new, high-resolution, two-way fully coupled atmosphere–ocean wave model in order to support operational and research activities. A specific issue that it is emphasized here is the determination and parameterization of the air–sea momentum fluxes under conditions of extremely high and time-varying winds. Software considerations, data exchange as well as computational and scientific performance of the coupled system, so-called WEW, are also discussed throughout this study. In a case study of high-impact weather and sea state event, the wind–wave parameterization scheme reduces the resulted wind speed and the significant wave height as a response to the increased aerodynamic drag over rough sea surfaces. Overall, WEW offers a more realistic representation of the momentum exchanges in the ocean wind–wave system and includes the effects of the resolved wave spectrum on the drag coefficient and its feedback on the momentum flux.