Abstract
Wave models are typically forced with synoptic wind fields at 3 hourly intervals. In reality, winds are highly turbulent and exhibit high spatial and temporal variability. Therefore, using 3 hourly wind fields to force wave models, the extent of the natural variability may be masked. Subsequently, the impact on generating surface waves may be underestimated. Until now research has been focused upon the effect of spatial resolution within hydrodynamic models with little research focusing on the effect of temporal resolution. Here, an idealised storm event, within a model domain of similar dimensions to the North Sea, is simulated using the SWAN wave model. The extent that fluctuating wind affects wave power has been examined, with a test case where wind, without additional gustiness, was input as the control. The results indicate that the inclusion of wind variability at sub hourly time-steps is likely to affect estimates of the wave power resource. Wave power is a function of the wave period and the square of wave height, both of which can be altered as a result of high frequency wind input. Consequently, understanding and accurately simulating the impact of wind variability on wave properties can improve the accuracy of wave power predictions.