Output fields from the NOAA WAVEWATCH III® wave model monthly hindcasts

The NOAA WAVEWATCH III® hindcast dataset comprises output fields from the monthly WAVEWATCH III® hindcast model runs conducted at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Each model run produces a collection of files containing gridded fields comprised of input and mean wave parameters such as the significant wave height, directions, frequencies etc. Once per month, a wave simulation is carried out using restart files from the previous month and forced by hindcast wind products for the entire month. The resulting output data are transferred to NCEI on a monthly basis. NCEI assembles the series of files into monthly accessions to facilitate archival retention and public access. The fields are encoded in the standard GRIdded Binary version 2 (GRIB2) file format. Wave spectral data summaries are included, as well as detailed spectra at selected locations, in tabular text format. Nine different sets of output fields, corresponding to nine different grids used in the numerical simulations, are included. These include a global grid, as well as regional and coastal grids covering much of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans.