Wave Hindcast in Enclosed Basins: Comparison among SWAN, STWAVE and CMS-Wave Models

This paper highlights the issue of the model consistency for wave hindcasts in enclosed basins, such as lakes and lagoons. For these applications, the wind input mechanism is essential and the differences in the model approaches and available settings make it critical and difficult for the users to comprehensively understand each of the model’s capabilities and limitations. Therefore, three freely accessible regional scale spectral wave models (SWAN, STWAVE, and CMS-Wave), using the Half and Full plane modes where available, are used for wave hindcast purposes in two locations of the Garda Lake (IT). Results achieved with default settings are compared and discussed. Significant differences are found showing that, unfortunately, specific calibration, which is, however, not possible in many practical cases, is essential for applications in enclosed basins.