Waves

A wave is a disturbance that propagates through space and time. In fluid dynamics, wind waves or, more precisely, wind-generated waves are surface waves that occur on the free surface of oceans, and seas. The term wave climate is used to describe the temporal distribution of wave height, period and direction.

In detail

UKCP09 provides projections of climate-driven changes in offshore waves, as represented by various parameters include extreme waves and mean wave height (MWH). A wave model, PROWAM, is used for a 12 km resolution model of the NW European continental shelf. All results are for the medium emissions scenario (SRES A1B).

• They are summarised in Section 6.3.3 of the UKCP09 Briefing report with more details in Chapter 5 of the UKCP09 Marine & coastal projections report.

• Some worked examples were developed prior to the launch of UKCP09 that used dummy outputs to examine how the UKCP09 marine and coastal projections might be used. The worked examples should not be interpreted as a best practice method for using UKCP09, but as one way of using the outputs.

Find out more

• MCCIP Annual Report Card on the MCCIP website