Evaluation of Wave Model Performance during Typhoon Event in Surrounding Korea Waters

In 2022, South Korea experienced Super Typhoon Hinnamnor, one of the most powerful cyclonic storms of the year, which caused significant damage to cities along the southern coastline. Accurate wave prediction during such extreme weather events is crucial for effective disaster management and coastal protection. This study aims to evaluate the performance of the latest version of the wind wave model WAVEWATCH III (hereafter, WW3), specifically version 6.07, in simulating typhoon-induced waves in the waters surrounding Korea during Super Typhoon Hinnamnor. The model is forced by wind fields obtained from ERA5 reanalysis data. To assess model accuracy, we compare the simulations with in-situ measurements, focusing on five wind input and dissipation source terms within the WW3 model, denoted as ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, and ST6. These terms are applied to simulate extreme wave events in Korea's waters during the typhoon. Overall, the model results demonstrate good performance when compared to observed wave data, with the ST4 simulation proving to be the most effective formulation for simulating the wave field under typhoon conditions compared to the other source term packages.