ECMWF Integrated Forecasting System - Deterministic Wave Forecast (IFS Wave)

Description

IFS Wave is ECMWF’s global spectral wave model (ecWAM) coupled to the atmospheric IFS. It predicts the growth, propagation and dissipation of wind-generated waves using source terms for wind input, whitecapping, nonlinear wave–wave interactions and bottom effects. Forcing comes primarily from IFS 10-m winds and sea-ice fields, with wave data assimilation providing initial conditions from satellite altimeter significant wave height and other platforms. The coupling allows feedbacks between winds and sea state that improve air–sea fluxes and extreme-sea diagnostics. Core outputs include significant wave height, mean and peak period, mean direction, wind-sea and swell partitions, and related surface variables used in marine operations and hazard assessment.

Detail

• Product page: ECMWF Open Data
• Grid: 0.25° global, open-data subset
• Cycles: 00 and 12 UTC
• Forecast steps: 3-hourly to 144 h, then 6-hourly to 360 h (15 days)
• Key fields: SWH, mean and peak period, mean direction, wind-sea and swell partitions, surface wave diagnostics
• Applications: shipping and routing, offshore operations, coastal hazard outlooks, marine forecasting and research

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