Future Wave Climate Projections for the North Atlantic (2030–2055) under the SSP2-4.5 Scenario Using WaveWATCH III

This dataset contains wave propagation outputs generated by the WaveWATCH III model for the North Atlantic region under future climate conditions. The simulations cover the period from 2030 to 2055 and are based on the SSP2-4.5 scenario of the CMIP6 framework, with a spatial resolution of 0.5° x 0.5°. The wave model was driven exclusively by wind data obtained from downscaled atmospheric simulations performed using the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model. These WRF simulations were developed through a multi-model downscaling approach of CMIP6 GCMs (Global Climate Models) for the North Atlantic. The wind input data used to force the WaveWATCH III simulations follow the same modeling framework and validation approach described in Thomas et al. (2023).

The generated dataset includes key wave parameters such as:

• Significant wave height (hs)
• Wave peak frequency (fp)
• Wave mean direction (dir)

The data follows CF-1.6 conventions and is provided in NetCDF4 format. Each file represents annual data and is named using the convention ww3_XXXX.nc, where XXXX refers to the respective year. The temporal resolution is hourly, with variables structured along time, longitude, and latitude dimensions.

The geographic extent of the database spans latitudes from 7.5°N to 65.5°N and longitudes from -60.0°W to 14.5°E, covering both oceanic and coastal regions. These data are useful for studies on wave climate, ocean dynamics, coastal engineering, and renewable marine energy.

Reference:

Thomas, B., Costoya, X., Decastro, M., Insua-Costa, D., Senande-Rivera, M., & Gómez-Gesteira, M. (2023). Downscaling CMIP6 climate projections to classify the future offshore wind energy resource in the Spanish territorial waters. Journal of Cleaner Production, 433, 139860.

Acknowledgement:
Computation took place at Finisterrae III supercomputer that belongs to CESGA (Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia) located at Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.