Parameterization of unresolved obstacles in wave modelling: A source term approach

•Parameterization of subscale obstacles dissipation through source terms.•One source term to model local dissipation.•One source term to model the shadow.•Validation through synthetic case studies.

In the present work we introduce two source terms for the parameterization of energy dissipation due to unresolved obstacles in spectral wave models. The proposed approach differs from the classical one based on spatial propagation schemes because it provides a local representation of phenomena such as unresolved wave energy dissipation. This source term-based approach presents the advantage of decoupling unresolved obstacles parameterization from the spatial propagation scheme, allowing not to reformulate, reimplement and revalidate the parameterization of unresolved obstacles for each propagation scheme. Furthermore it opens the way to parameterizations of other unresolved sheltering effects like rotation and redistribution of wave energy over frequencies. Proposed source terms estimate respectively local energy dissipation and shadow effect due to unresolved obstacles. Source terms validation through synthetic case studies has been carried out, showing their ability in reproducing wave dynamics comparable to those of high resolution models. The analysis of high resolution stationary wave simulations may help to better diagnose and study the effects of unresolved obstacles, providing estimations of transparency coefficients for each spectral component and allowing to understand and model unresolved effects of rotation and redistribution of wave energy over frequencies.