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Coastal Wave Model Statistics

Created 26/06/2025

Updated 16/11/2025

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Coastal Wave Model Statistics dataset is a high-resolution third-generation wave model based on unstructured grids. WAVEWATCH III was used to investigate the wave climate of Bass Strait and South-East Australia over the period 1981 to 2020. The model results are extensively validated against a network of coastal buoys and demonstrate that the model can capture the overall wave characteristics in this region. Analyses of model outputs across the 40-year period show that significant wave height has increased by approximately 5% and a slight counterclockwise rotation of peak wave direction has occurred with likely implications for coastal processes. Seasonal variations show higher significant wave height in winter compared to summer, which is driven by dominant Southern Ocean swell. The peak wave direction in the eastern region shifts from south-westerly in winter to south-easterly in summer. In autumn and winter, there is a statistically significant correlation between wave conditions and the Southern Annular Mode. During these seasons, a southward movement of Southern Ocean low pressure systems is associated with increased significant wave height, an increase in the peak wave period and a counterclockwise rotation of the peak wave direction. 1. Liu, J., Meucci, A., Liu, Q., Babanin, A. V., Ierodiaconou, D., & Young, I. R. (2022), The wave climate of Bass Strait and south-east Australia. Ocean Modelling, 172, 101980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2022.101980. 2. Tran, H. Q., Provis, D., & Babanin, A. V. (2021), Hydrodynamic Climate of Port Phillip Bay. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9(8), 898. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9080898

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Coastal Wave Model Statistics
Language English
Licence Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/en/dataset/613f86cf-92ed-417e-a0b2-e82f1f4d6b8f
Remote Last Updated 25/10/2025
Contact Point
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
contact@dpc.vic.gov.au
Reference Period 29/10/2022
Geospatial Coverage Victoria
Data Portal Victoria Government

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Victoria Government "Coastal Wave Model Statistics". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/coastal-wave-model-statistics