Wave energy research in global oceans with ERA-40 wave data for recent 45 years

This paper presents results from an investigation of global wave energy resources derived from analysis of ECMWF ERA-40 wave re-analysis data spanning the 45 year period from September 1957 to August 2002. The global distribution of wind sea energy and swell energy, based on the wave spectra partition, are presented for the first time. The spatial and temporal variations of the global wave energy, swell index, frequency of wave power grade and coefficient of variation are presented and described. By the criterion presented in this paper, the most energy-rich and exploitable areas of the global oceans are opened out.