WIND ESTIMATION FOR COASTAL MODELING APPLICATIONS

Winds near the water surface are influenced by a variety of physical p rocesses ranging from synaptic scale variations in atmospheric pressur e to very localized interactions with coastal landforms. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CE) requires wind information for estimating wave s, water levels, and circulations at coastal locations varying from sm all reservoirs to the ocean shore. The broad scope of natural processe s affecting winds over water and the present CE estimation procedures are reviewed.