Linking Changes in the Directional Distribution of Moderate and Strong Winds with Changes in Wave Properties in the Eastern Baltic Proper

Soomere, T.; Eelsalu, M.; Viigand, K., and Giudici, A., 2024. Linking changes in the directional distribution of moderate and strong winds with changes in wave properties in the eastern Baltic proper. In: Phillips, M.R.; Al-Naemi, S., and Duarte, C.M. (eds.), Coastlines under Global Change: Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2024 (Doha, Qatar). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 113, pp. 190-194. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. We explore the links between changes in the directional structure of moderate (>5 m/s to 10 m/s) and strong (>10 m/s) winds and similar changes in wave properties in the eastern Baltic proper. We apply modeled nearshore wave properties from 1990 to 2022 and wind measurements at selected sites. Long-term changes in the average wind speed are not coherent on the eastern shore of the sea. The predominant wave energy approach direction varies along this shore. The directional distribution of wave energy flux reflects a similar two-peak distribution of moderate and strong winds, with a persistent maximum for WSW/W/WNW winds and a secondary peak for NW or NNW winds. The magnitudes of these peaks vary by 50% in different decades. These variations do not match the similar changes to the average wind speed.