Numerical Modeling of Nearshore Wave Conditions at Al Huwaisat Island, KSA

A wave study was carried out around Al Huwaisat Isalnad, KSA to establish the characteristics of waves there. A wave generation/transformation model that takes into consideration: wave generation/growth by wind and wave transformation due to: wave shoaling, wave refraction, bottom dissipation, wave blocking, wind generation, wave braking, frequency spreading, directional spreading, wave-wave interaction,and wave current interaction. The input data to the model consisted of ships’ observation wave and wind data covering a period of 49 years and seabed levels obtained from a recent bathymetric survey and admiralty chart. The results of the model showed that the wave climate around Al Huwaisat Island is mainly governed by waves generated locally by wind rather than waved approaching from the offshore and transformed across the seabed configuration and other transforming factors. Such waves show the typical characteristics of wind generated waves over shallow seabed, i.e. small wave heights and periods.