Аннотация:For the study of storm waves in the Sea of Azov spectral wave model of the third-generation SWAN (Simulating
Waves Nearshore) was used. The inputs to the model were the bottom topography in grid (pitch axis x 0,02 and
the axis y 0,01 ) and wind field of a new high-resolution( 0.3) reanalysis NCEP CFSR from 1978 to 2010 with
a time step of 1 hour.
This model calculates significant wave height, swell height, direction of wave propagation, its length and the
period, and the wave energy transport. The time interval output was 3 hours. Results of calculation of the last 2
days of the year are used as input for the next year. Supercomputers of Lomonosov Moscow State University were
used for this research.
The physical processes such as quadruplet interactions, whitecapping, triads, bottom friction, depth-induced
breaking and diffraction are considered. The simulation results were used to calculate the number of storms, their
duration, for the period of settlement, and for each month. Total number of storms with significant wave height
greater than 2 m was 165. The highest values of calculated parameters are found in the central part of the sea:
significant wave height is 3.5 m, a period of waves is 5 seconds, the length is 25 m.
According to model simulation, the distribution of waves with 100 years return period were calculated. As a
result, it was found that the heights of "100-year" waves in the Sea of Azov do not exceed 5 m. The study presents
climatic variability of storms. Found that there was downward trend of storm activity in the Sea of Azov in the
simulating period from 1978 to 2010. Synoptic situations that led to increase of storm waves were analyzed for
extreme cases.
The work is done in Natural Risk Assessment Laboratory under contract G.34.31.0007.