Dynamically downscaled future wave projections from SWAN model results for the main Hawaiian Islands

Publication Date

2019-09-10

Time Period

2017

Elias, E.P.L., and Storlazzi, C.D., 2019, Dynamically downscaled future wave projections from SWAN model results for the main Hawaiian Islands: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7G73CP1.

Changes in future wave climates in the tropical Pacific Ocean from global climate change are not well understood. Spatially and temporally varying waves dominate coastal morphology and ecosystem structure of the islands throughout the tropical Pacific. Waves also impact coastal infrastructure, natural and cultural resources, and coastal-related economic activities of the islands. Whereas scientific understanding of the dominant processes controlling coastal morphology and coastal and marine ecosystem structure on islands has improved over the past decade, our understanding of the linkages between these factors and variations in the wave climate across the Pacific is limited. Furthermore, the influence of global climate change on wind and wave conditions is not well understood. Stationary statistical approaches (such as return values) have typically been used to predict future extreme and mean wind and wave conditions, but with the changing climate this may not be a valid approach. Although some nonstationary statistical approaches (for example, nonstationary generalized extreme values) may sufficiently capture the variations and changes, recent work seems to point in the direction that the current climate alone cannot be used to estimate future conditions. Information on potential changes in wave climate under future global climate change scenarios is therefore crucial to understanding not only the sustainability of existing infrastructure, natural, and cultural resources, but also planning for future investments in infrastructure and the viability of coastal-related economic activities such as fishing and tourism.

ScienceBase WMS

• Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
• USGS Data Release Products

Data source

Input directly