@misc{wahle_an_atmospherewave_2017, author={Wahle, K., Staneva, J., Koch, W., Fenoglio-Marc, L., Ho-Hagemann, H.T.M., Stanev, E.V.}, title={An atmosphere-wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea}, year={2017}, howpublished = {journal article}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-289-2017}, abstract = {The coupling of models is a commonly used approach when addressing the complex interactions between different components of earth systems. We demonstrate that this approach can result in a reduction of errors in wave forecasting, especially in dynamically complicated coastal ocean areas, such as the southern part of the North Sea – the German Bight. Here, we study the effects of coupling of an atmospheric model (COSMO) and a wind wave model (WAM), which is enabled by implementing wave-induced drag in the atmospheric model. The numerical simulations use a regional North Sea coupled wave–atmosphere model as well as a nested-grid high-resolution German Bight wave model. Using one atmospheric and two wind wave models simultaneously allows for study of the individual and combined effects of two-way coupling and grid resolution. This approach proved to be particularly important under severe storm conditions as the German Bight is a very shallow and dynamically complex coastal area exposed to storm floods. The two-way coupling leads to a reduction of both surface wind speeds and simulated wave heights. In this study, the sensitivity of atmospheric parameters, such as wind speed and atmospheric pressure, to the wave-induced drag, in particular under storm conditions, and the impact of two-way coupling on the wave model performance, is quantified. Comparisons between data from in situ and satellite altimeter observations indicate that two-way coupling improves the simulation of wind and wave parameters of the model and justify its implementation for both operational and climate simulations.}, note = {Online available at: \url{https://doi.org/10.5194/os-13-289-2017} (DOI). Wahle, K.; Staneva, J.; Koch, W.; Fenoglio-Marc, L.; Ho-Hagemann, H.; Stanev, E.: An atmosphere-wave regional coupled model: improving predictions of wave heights and surface winds in the southern North Sea. Ocean Science. 2017. vol. 13, no. 2, 289-301. DOI: 10.5194/os-13-289-2017}}