Accuracy of global and high resolution models in stormy conditions

We analyse the performance of two top level meteorological models and their associated analyses versus the corresponding results obtained with high resolution nesting both for wind and for the derived wave field using the same advanced wave model. The comparison is also done versus both locally (buoys) and large scale (altimeter and scatterometer) measured data. It turns out that nested high resolution modelling does in general lead to a lower bias, but at the expense of larger root mean square errors and scatter indexes when compared with measured data. The reasons for this are discussed and a possible solution is indicated. Copyright © 2013 by the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE).