Publications

Rusu, E. and Guedes Soares, C. (2009), “Numerical Modelling to Estimate the Spatial Distribution Of The Wave Energy in The Portuguese Nearshore”, Renewable Energy, Vol. 34, Issue 6, pp. 1501-1516

The present work is concentrated on the analysis of the spatial distribution of the wave power resources in the Portuguese continental nearshore. In the beginning, the potential of the Portuguese coastal environment is briefly discussed considering also the new developments related with the wave energy extraction in the global energetic context. In order to give a first perspective of the wave climate in the targeted area, a medium term wave analysis was carried out focused on the central and northern parts of the Portuguese nearshore, traditionally considered as being more energetic. This is based on recent in situ measurements coming from two buoys that cover a ten-year period, between 1994 and 2003. A wave prediction system based on the two state-of-the-art spectral phase averaging models, WAM and SWAN, was used to evaluate the wave fields. Validation tests with this system were first performed, the calibrations being focussed on modelling the deep water processes in the transformation area. A special attention was paid to whitecapping that is still considered the weak link in ocean waves modelling. Model system simulations for a forty-day period (in the beginning of 1994) were performed and four buoys operating in key positions in the Portuguese continental coastal environment were used as check points.

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