Schmalz RA2010-02-152010-02-152003http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23349605-614The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration installed a Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS) to provide water surface elevation, currents at National Ocean Service prediction depth ( [similar to] 4.6m below MLLW) as well as near-surface and near-bottom temperature and salinity, and meteorological information at six-minute intervals. To complement the PORTS, a nowcast/forecast system has been developed for Galveston Bay using a modified version of the Blumberg-Mellor (1987) three-dimensional circulation model and a one-way coupled fine resolution Houston Ship Channel model (Schmalz, 1998). Daily 24-hour nowcasts and 36-hour forecasts are performed using both bay and channel models in a pseudo-operational setting. This paper investigates the incorporation of a real time wave model component within the present system. Initial test results for two parametric USAGE wave models (CW-167, 1955; CETN-I-6, 1981) as well as for the finite difference-based Donelan (1977) wave model are presented. These tests were performed using constant wind speed and direction to study the behavior of wave growth in each of the models. Next a period in January 1997 was used to evaluate/modify and calibrate the models. A swell open boundary condition was added to the parametric models. For the deep-water Donelan wave model, swell effects were not included, but rather a depth dependent wind to wave momentum transfer coefficient was used to incorporate shallow water effects. Based on these studies a combined parametric model (CETN-I-6 (1981) for significant wave height prediction and CW-167 (1955) for significant wave period prescription) is advanced for incorporation within the present nowcast/forecast system. Finally, data requirements and plans for incorporation of the combined parametric wave model as a subroutine within the circulation model program are discussedBoundary conditionsElectromagnetic wave diffractionElectromagnetic wave refractionMathematical modelsOceanographyReal time systemsSaline waterThree dimensionalWaterWater resourcesWater wavesWeather forecastingWindCONF