Performance of ERA5 wind speed and significant wave height within Extratropical cyclones using collocated satellite radar altimeter measurements

Abstract

ABSTRACT Similar in strength to hurricanes, Extratropical Cyclones (ECs) are responsible for innavigable sea states, coastal inundation and erosion, and subsequent destruction to coastal infrastructure. Across modern operational wave models, there exists a known systematic underestimation of wave heights during these extreme events. Using a global database of EC storm tracks and 36 years of satellite altimeter data, we examine EC structure and assess model performance through storm centered composite analyses of significant wave height ( H s ) and U10 wind speed ( | U 10 | ). Through the collocation of satellite altimeter observations with a state-of-the-art reanalysis product (ERA5), we investigate model performance with respect to | U 10 | and H s within ECs of varying intensities. By rotating our data reference frames, we align all storm directions to account for asymmetry in EC wind fields and subsequent increased wave growth This rotation results in the organization of the strongest wind speed and H s , as well as trends in the ERA5 performance. A characteristic EC radii is calculated and used to normalize data coordinates in the storm centered reference frame, which highlights the organization of EC structures. Performance metrics are then compared within different EC quadrants to explore the relationship between wind forcing accuracy and underestimation of H s .