Abstract
Effects of currents on winter wind waves in the tide-dominated Qiongzhou Strait (QS) were numerically evaluated via employing the coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave-sediment transport (COAWST) modeling system. Validations showed satisfactory model performance in simulating the intense tidal currents in the QS. Different effects of sea level variations and tidal currents on waves were examined under the maximum eastward (METC) and westward (MWTC) tidal currents. In the east entrance area of the QS, the positive sea levels under the MWTC deepened the water depth felt by waves, benefiting the further propagation of wave energy into the inner strait and causing increased wave height. The METC and the MWTC could both enhance the wave height in the east entrance area of the QS, mainly through current-induced convergence and wavenumber shift, respectively. By current-induced refraction, the METC (MWTC) triggered counterclockwise (clockwise) rotation in peak wave directions in the northern part of the QS while clockwise (counterclockwise) rotation in the southern part.
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The first author sincerely thanks John C. Warner and Zengrui Rong for their generous and professional assistance in building up the COAWST model.
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The Fund of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang) under contract No. ZJW-2019-08; the Program for Scientific Research Start-up Funds of Guangdong Ocean University under contract No. 101302/R18001; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41776034; the First-class Discipline Plan of Guangdong Province under contract No. CYL231419012.
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Bai, P., Ling, Z., Liu, C. et al. Effects of tidal currents on winter wind waves in the Qiongzhou Strait: a numerical study. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 39, 33–43 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-020-1673-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-020-1673-2