Abstract

Predicting wind-wave energy in shallow water ecosystems: a GIS model
Track: Ocean, Coastal, and Marine Resources
Authors: amit malhotra

Wave exposure model (WEMo) is capable of predicting wave energy arising from local wind-generated waves in closed water bodies. This model is intended to bridge the gap between ecologists and managers on one hand, and physical hydrologists on the other by providing fast, user-friendly access to quantitative forecasts (and hindcasts) of wave heights and associated physical conditions. Using Arcobjects geoprocessing capabilities applied on geographic input of shoreline, bathymetry, and wind data, WEMo returns several quantitative results for key physical attributes of the location of interest including wave energy, wave height, period, bottom orbital velocity and seafloor shear stress. WEMo has being validated against field data collected in North Carolina sounds and Chesapeake Bay Va. WEMo provides new, significant opportunities for integrating quantitative forecasts and hindcasts of wind wave effects into many applications involving habitat characterization, restoration, extreme event forecasting, zoning, shoreline engineering and public safety.