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NOAA/NCEP Operational Wave Models

Point of contact: NCEP.EMC.waves@NOAA.gov
Last update: September 01, 2006

Important Notice To All Users

The WAVEWATCH III model is being upgraded. Please refer to the NOAA Technical Implementation Notice 07-51 regarding the details of the changes.

Effective September 18, 2007, the WAVEWATCH III website has been changed in support of the new model.

The new home page is here.

We will continue to support the previous WAVEWATCH III website for the near future; eventually all users will be redirected to the new website.
Welcome to the home pages for the operational ocean wave models of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP/NOAA). This initial site provides a gateway to our operational ocean wind-wave forecast products and historical archives. Also visit the web site for our operational Great Lakes Waves model (GLW).

There are several ways to access the operational model results, historical wave model data and related information:
  • The interactive data interface (JavaScript required) gives access to maps, spectral plots and spectral text bulletins with a point-and-click interface. Several model runs are available. (troubleshooting)
  • The tabular data interface gives access to the same data, but is organized with links in several large tables (most recent model run only).
  • The text data interface gives access to this data in lists, without using graphical web elements (most recent model run only). data.
  • The products page gives a short description of all data accessible through the above interfaces, and instructions on getting additional binary data from our FTP site.
  • The primer gives a short description of how to interpret data presented here.
  • A historical archive of wave hindcast results produced with the latest version of the wave models can be accessed through an interactive (JavaScript required) or tabular interface.
  • Results for the global ensemble wave forecast. This website is still in development, and full documentation will be provideed in the near future.
The operational ocean wave predictions of NOAA/NWS/NCEP are performed using the wave model WAVEWATCH III (source code available) using operational products of NCEP as input. This combination of inputs and wave model is called NOAA WAVEWATCH III or NWW3. The wave model suite consists of global and regional implementations. As background information, a list of selected references and a chronological list of model changes are available. Finally, extensive validation data are available for the global, Alaskan Waters and Western North Atlantic models. Sign up for the MMAB mailing list for pertinent updates on these products.
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