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Title:	Wave climate characteristics and assessment of wave energy potential in southern region of the South China Sea
Authors:	Ali Mirzaei Ghareh Gheshlaghi (P49265)
Supervisor:	Fredolin Tangang, Prof. Dr.
Keywords:	Wave climate Wave energy Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- Dissertations Dissertations, Academic -- Malaysia
Issue Date:	27-May-2015
Description:	This study investigated wave climate characteristics and assessment of wave energy potential in the southern region of the South China Sea (SCS). This study employed the state-of-the art WAVEWATCH III™ spectral wave model to simulate a 31-year wave hindcast. The model was forced with Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) winds and validated against altimeter data and limited available measurements from an Acoustic WAve and Current (AWAC) recorder located nearshore Terengganu, Malaysia. The model performed reasonably well when compared with observed data. The simulated outputs were used to assess wave climate characteristics including inter-annual variability and long-term changes and the corresponding wave energy flux for the period 1979 to 2009. Based on model outputs the mean annual significant wave height, mean wave period and peak wave period indicated the occurrence of higher wave heights and wave periods in the central SCS and lower in the Sunda shelf region. Consistent with wind patterns, the wave direction also shows southeasterly (northwesterly) waves during the summer (winter) monsoon. This detailed hindcast also demonstrated strong inter-annual variability of wave characteristics, especially during the winter months in the SCS. Significant wave height and wave power correlated negatively with Niño3.4 index during winter, spring and autumn seasons but became positive in the summer monsoon. Such correlations correspond well with surface wind anomalies over the SCS during El Nino events. During El Niño Modoki, the summer time positive correlation extends northeastwards to cover the entire domain. Although significant positive trends were found at 95% confidence levels during May, July and September, there is significant negative trend in December covering the Sunda shelf region. However, the trend appears to be largely influenced by large El Niño signals. The wave energy flux (wave power) was also computed using the model outputs of significant wave height and peak wave period in entire computational domain and in nine specific selected sites. The wave power decreases gradually towards Sunda Shelf and reaches to its minimum at coastal regions due to bathymetry complexity, shadowing and island obstruction effects. Moreover, based on the combined scatter and energy diagrams, the east coast of Vietnam is highlighted the most eligible station for harvesting the wave energy due to its close proximity to mainland and its high magnitude of energy with less wave energy scattering. The estimated electric power for a number of Wave Energy Converter (WEC) devices showed some stations (Hameau Mo in Vietnamese east coast, Spratly Island, Palawan and Cape Bolinao in west coast of Luzon) have greater eligibility for wave power farming. This study further examined the eligibility of east coast of Peninsular Malaysia for harvesting the incoming waves by selecting another nine sites along the coast in different locations (sheltered and open areas). It was found that along the northern section of east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, particularly locations in front of islands, is more eligible for wave energy farming. On the other hand, southern region is mostly sheltered by multiple islands resulting in low magnitude of wave power.,Ph.D.
Pages:	174
Publisher:	UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:	Faculty of Science and Technology / Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi

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