Sea breeze-induced wind sea growth in the central west coast of India

Abstract

Fine resolution wind data is required in wave models to study the interaction between wind seas generated by coastal winds, and swells. In the present study, a mesoscale model, MM5, which is capable of reproducing fine details of sea breeze characteristics, has been used to simulate winds along the central west coast of India during pre-monsoon season, and these winds are used in the wave model. Our analysis shows that sea breeze induced wind seas are generated roughly around 210km off Goa in the northwest direction, and grow progressively while propagating towards the coast. Relationships between wind speed and wind sea height have been derived, and they fairly explain the generation of wind seas by the sea breeze system. Since, the land breeze is weak and available fetch is very limited, the land breeze has no significant effect on wind sea generation from the northeast direction.