Abstract
The wave model WAVEWATCHIII is used to produce wave information, until the end of the 21st century, covering all ocean areas. Global wind and ice-cover climate data from a total of 120 years are used as input for the wave model. The period is divided into four 30-year slices, where the first (1980–2009) represents the recent past, the second (2010–2039) the near future, the third (2040–2069) the mid-century and the last one (2070–2099) represents the end of the 21st century. For each period, the mean value, the standard deviation and the 99th percentile are computed for significant wave height of total sea, wave energy and cumulative wave energy, and also for the 10-m wind magnitude field, used to force the wave model. Changes from the recent past to the present and to each of the two future periods are obtained and analyzed. The results show an increase in mean significant wave height of total sea, wave energy and cumulative wave energy in the South Atlantic, and an increase in variability and a decrease of mean significant wave height of total sea in the North Atlantic. Other regions also present changes but are less marked and less consistent through time.
•WWIII is forced with global wind and ice-cover data from an RCP8.5 EC-Earth for a total of 120 years covering all ocean areas.•The total period is divided into four 30-year time slices, until the end of the 20th century.•The mean value, the standard deviation and the 99th percentile are computed for Hs and wave energy E and for U10.•Changes from the present climate to each of the three future periods are obtained and analyzed.•There is an increase in mean Hs in the S. Atlantic, and a decrease in Hs and an increase in variability in the N. Atlantic.
