Meteo-marine parameters and their variability observed by high resolution satellite radar

Kurzfassung

An estimation of swell wave energy fluxes is presented based on remote sensing data. The energy flux being the product of wave energy density and group velocity is estimated based on information about local wave height, wavelength and period. Wave parameters are determined from TerraSAR-X high resolution radar images using the newly developed empirical algorithm XWAVE-2. An analysis of the spatial variation of relevant variables is presented for selected areas along the south coast of Java island (Indonesia). Wavelength reduction of shoaling waves moreover yields estimates of the local bathymetry. An examination of sea state parameters in combination with the derived local under water topography permits the identification of the best-suited locations for wave power plants. The information is a valuable constituent in the site selection process for ocean renewable energy facilities as part of the bilateral Indonesian-German project “Science for the Protection of Indonesian Coastal Marine Ecosystems(SPICE).