The ESA GlobWave Evolution Project: Towards a Sea-State Essential Climate Variable
Ash, Ellis1; Piolle, Jean-Francois2; Collard, Fabrice2; Snaith, Helen3; Pagnani, Maureen3; Pinnock, Simon4
1Satellite Oceanographic Consultants, UNITED KINGDOM; 2Ifremer, FRANCE; 3NOC, Southampton, UNITED KINGDOM; 4ESA, ITALY

We report on the progress of the GlobWave Evolution project, funded under the ESA Data User Element (DUE) programme. The objective of the original GlobWave project (2009-2013) was to improve the uptake of satellite-derived wind-wave and swell data by the scientific, operational and commercial user community. The main output of this was a consistently processed data set of altimeter and SAR-based wave measurements provided in a common format with additional quality and errors information together with ancillary fields from the ECMWF operational model. Another key component of GlobWave was the development of a pilot extension to the JCOMM Wave Forecast Verification Scheme to provide spatial intercomparison with satellite wave data sets to contributing meteorological offices. The GlobWave Evolution project has two components. The first is to continue operating the Pilot Spatial Wave Forecast Verification Scheme (PS-WFVS) and making preparations for its transfer to a long-term operational framework. The second is to develop products based on the GlobWave L2P satellite wave data that target the requirements of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) for a Sea-State Essential Climate Variable (ECV). Three types of ECV product are envisaged: a monthly gridded sea-state product for the whole altimeter record (1985-2013); a new innovative multi-sensor high temporal resolution product; regional and global sea state change indicators. ECV products developed during the project are made freely available via the GlobWave web portal. The project began in February 2013 and is expected to last for 12 months.