Work

High-Resolution Wave Climate Data under Future Climate Scenarios along the European Atlantic Coast

Year: 2026

Type: data-paper

Abstract: Understanding future wave climate is critical for coastal adaptation, infrastructure planning, and marine renewable energy development. This study presents a high-resolution spectral wave dataset for the European Atlantic coast, derived through regional downscaling of CMIP6 climate projections. The dataset was generated using the WRF atmospheric model and two wave models-WAVEWATCH III and Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN)-to simulate 3-hourly directional wave spectra at 1,031 offshore locations spaced 10 km apart and approximately 50 km from shore. Simulations cover three 30-year periods: historical (1985-2014) and two future projections (2030-2059) under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. Two datasets are provided: spectral energy densities and integrated wave parameters, both validated and formatted in CF-1.8-compliant NetCDF-4 files. The spectral data can be used to initialize new SWAN simulations, enabling efficient, site-specific wave modeling. The integral wave parameters support regional-scale assessments of climate change impacts on wave conditions. The dataset is openly available through the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis (CEDA) repository, offering a valuable resource for research, engineering, and policy-making in coastal and marine domains.

Source: Scientific Data

DOI: 10.1038/s41597-026-07158-7

Authors: B. Arguilé-Pérez, X. Costoya, A. S. Ribeiro, M. deCastro, P. Carracedo, M. Gómez-Gesteira

Institutions: Universidade de Vigo, University of Aveiro

Language: English

Topic: Ocean Waves and Remote Sensing

Subfield: Oceanography

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,490