Analysis of wave characteristics in the waters around Taiwan based on WW3 wave model data

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Abstract The waters surrounding Taiwan are influenced by the East Asian monsoon, typhoon activity, the Kuroshio Current, and complex topography, resulting in highly variable and complex wave characteristics which are significant for marine disaster prevention and wave energy development. Previous studies have often been limited to specific sub-regions, lacking a systematic comparison and mechanistic analysis across the entire area. For the first time, this study employs a high-resolution (0.25°) WAVEWATCH III (WW3) model (v6.07.1) driven by ERA5 reanalysis wind fields to conduct a multi-scale analysis of wave parameters in four key sub-regions (the Strait, Northern, Eastern, and Southern areas) around Taiwan from 2014 to 2023. The results indicate significant spatiotemporal differentiation: the southern sea area exhibits the largest annual mean significant wave height (1.84 m), while the eastern sea area shows the weakest correlation between wave height and wind speed (annual mean r=0.017). Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis reveals two dominant modes: a monsoon-dominated basin-wide consistent mode (accounting for 43.2% of the variance) and a topography-driven north-south dipole mode (18.7%). The regional differences in the wave height-wind speed relationship are attributed to topographic modulation of wind fetch length and swell proportion, such as the funneling effect within the Taiwan Strait. This study enhances the understanding of the wave climate around Taiwan and provides scientific support for typhoon wave warnings and wave energy site planning.

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