Wave height and wave energy mapping in Malaysian seas using satellite altimetry data

Abstract

In recent development of water base renewable energy, Malaysia is one of country which are active on this matter. In order to assess an area for wave energy mapping and development, the wave climate or seasonal wave mapping must be defined. Acquiring an accurate and reliable wave climate data is one of the crucial step in the assessment of wave energy resources. Using satellite altimeter have resolve two main problems with conventional wave measurements, which are spatial distribution of data and the accuracy for wave height data. Using altimeter technology, wave period are derive and the estimation of wave power in Malaysian seas can be accurately estimate. The Radar Altimeter Database System located at Global Navigation Satellite System and Geodynamics Laboratory Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, was used to extract the significant wave height and wind speed data. Validation was carried out for wave height and wave period using in-situ measurement. According to validation results, altimeter derived data is closely consistent with buoy data and correlation coefficient for European Remote Sensing Satellite 2 and Envisat are 0.9587 and 0.982 respectively for wave height and 0.750 respectively for wave period from Envisat. The monthly averages of altimetry significant wave height and wave energy starting from January 1993 to December 2011 were mapped in this study. The results shows Northeast Monsoon clearly have the most significant effect on Malaysian seas. The Southwest monsoon have very minimal effect on Malaysian seas. Average wave height during Northeast Monsoon were around 1.5m to 2.2m for the open seas and 0.6m to 0.8m for closed sea area. The results also shows that during Southwest monsoon most of Malaysian seas only have less than 1m of wave height except on certain places near the coast of Borneo. The average of wave power during Northeast Monsoon were round 8kW/m to 15kW/m for open seas and less than 5kW/m for sheltered sea area.