Abstract
This paper present a wave hindcast for the RÃo de la Plata Estuary. It was based on the version 5.16 of the numerical wave model WAVEWATCH III ®, forcing with CFSR winds and considering non-stationary water levels and currents obtained from the hydrodynamic model TELEMAC 2D. A multi-mission altimetry database processed by IFREMER was considered as the ground truth. It was taken as reference to calibrate and validate the wave model, and also to do a local validation of CFSR winds. Tuning the Γ coefficient of the JONSWAP parametrization of dissipation by bottom friction (Sbot) and the BETAMAX coefficient of the energy input by wind (Sin), it was possible to correct the large negative BIAS in significant wave height (Hs) obtained with the default configuration. The hindcast cover the period 1985–2016 providing wave parameters with a spatial resolution of 1 km and a time step of 1 hour and full spectra at a 10 km offshore distance along the coast.
Highlights
The Río de la Plata (RDP) is a large estuary formed by the confluence of Paraná and Uruguay rivers that discharge into the Atlantic Ocean
The difference between the wind velocity at 10 m height (U10) obtained from CFSR reanalysis and the obtained from altimetry radars is shown on Figure 5 on terms of BIAS, root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient
The worst performance occur on the RDP, on the inner zone
Summary
The Río de la Plata (RDP) is a large estuary formed by the confluence of Paraná and Uruguay rivers that discharge into the Atlantic Ocean. An imaginary line that connects Montevideo and Punta Piedras is the upstream limit of the outer zone of the estuary. This zone is wide (O(200 km)), and water depth varies between 10 and 20 m. The wave conditions in this zone are a combination of wind-seas and swells that come from the south and dissipate as they travel into the estuary. The intermediate and inner zone is narrower (O(50 km)) and shallower (O(5 m)) and wave-conditions are dominated by sea-winds
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