On the statistical characterization of sea surface conditions in the mid Atlantic

摘要

The statistical characterization of sea state over the mid Atlantic was examined by using a 37-year (1980–2016) daily wave height and wind speed data obtained from simulations. Analysis of the daily wave height and wind speed and characterization of the annual, seasonal, sub-seasonal and monthly mean sea state from these parameters were done. Results showed that the average sea surface conditions in the mid Atlantic alternates between the slight and moderate sea states. Clearly, the sea surface condition of the mid Atlantic is generally rougher in winter months than the rest of the months of the year. However, the occurrence of the slight sea state is large (50–90%) in the eastern mid Atlantic, while the moderate sea state showed a high occurrence (40–90%) over a large region of the ocean. Rough sea condition with frequencies between 15 and 30% prevailed in the northwestern region of the ocean while higher occurrences (0.8–8%) of very rough sea distribute in the upper northwestern mid Atlantic. Hardly do the calm, high, very high and phenomenal sea conditions occur in the mid Atlantic.