Abstract
The generation and evolution of ocean waves by wind is one of the most complex phenomena in geophysics, and is of great practical significance. Predictive capabilities of respective wave models, however, are impaired by lack of field in situ observations, particularly in extreme Metocean conditions. The paper outlines and highlights important gaps in understanding the Metocean processes and suggests a major observational program in the Southern Ocean. This large, but poorly investigated part of the World Ocean is home to extreme weather around the year. The observational network would include distributed system of buoys (drifting and stationary) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASV), intended for measurements of waves and air-sea fluxes in the Southern Ocean. It would help to resolve the issues of limiting fetches, extreme Extra-Tropical cyclones, swell propagation and attenuation, wave-current interactions, and address the topics of wave-induced dispersal of floating objects, wave-ice interactions in the Marginal Ice Zone, Metocean climatology and its connection with the global climate.
Highlights
The generation and evolution of ocean waves by wind is one of the most complex phenomena in geophysics
This paper proposes systematic in situ field observations in the Southern Ocean
Understanding the extreme fetch and forcing conditions, and respective advance of the wave models is possible through such observations conducted by means of deployment of a distributed buoy network and autonomous surface vehicles (ASV) in the Southern Ocean
Summary
The generation and evolution of ocean waves by wind is one of the most complex phenomena in geophysics. The generation and evolution of waves in high-wind conditions and extreme fetches remains poorly understood
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