Abstract
In this study, wave power atlas is generated for Aegean Sea for years from 1999 to 2013 using a third-generation spectral wave model MIKE 21 SW. Wind data was obtained from ECMWF(ERA-Interim) with 0.125° spatial resolution and 6 hourly temporal resolution which was then interpolated to 10 min interval data. Distribution plots and statistical parameters were used to evaluate the performance of the model. Calibration results with 9 observational buoy data show high accuracy of the model. Analyses of the proposed model are done for offshore in this study. Analysis in time domain is divided into 15-year, seasonal and monthly mean wave height and wave powers. For analysis in space domain, wave characteristics are calculated on 4 bands with different widths parallel to Turkish coast. Moreover, 10 separate points were selected in different locations of the domain to derive wave roses and scatter diagrams. Maximum wave power values occur in Winter in northern part of the Aegean Sea with more than 8 kW/m. Maximum mean wave power occurrence location changes from north to middle southern part of the study region between Crete and Kasos islands in the period of Winter to Spring season.