Evaluating the results of Hormuz strait wave simulations using WAVEWATCH-III and MIKE21-SW

In this study, the capabilities of WAWEWATCH-III and MIKE21-SW for predicting the characteristics of wind-generated waves in Hormuz Strait are evaluated. The numerical models have been set up using Input data including GFS wind with 5° spatial resolution and 6 hours time intervals, along with the ETOPO1 bathymetry data with 2 arc-minute spatial resolutions. The results of the two model simulations were compared with the available satellite altimetry measurements of significant wave heights at the modeling area. The comparisons show that in deep water WAVEWATCH-III results in more reliable prediction of wave characteristics in comparison to the MIKE-21 SW. While in shallow area the MIKE-21 gives more consistencies with altimetry measurements. These may be due to the benefits of the unstructured grid which are used in MIKE- 21, lead to better representations of the coastal area. The investigation on the direction of wind generated waves in the modeling area show that in some regions despite of the increase in wind speed, significant wave height remains nearly unchanged. This is mainly because of rapid changes in wind direction over the Strait of Hormuz.