COWI uses the state-of-the-art numerical modelling package MIKE21 to determine metocean parameters.

Meteorological and oceanographic data
Main site specific meteorological and oceanographic data are gathered and analysed. Furthermore, the influence of sea level rise due to global warming is project specific and should be evaluated during the metocean study.

Wave conditions
Wave conditions are determined by use of the spectral wind-wave modelling tool MIKE21 SW. The model predicts the resulting wave climate in coastal and offshore areas based on input of water depths, wind speeds and parameters describing the physics of the wave climate.

Water level variations
To determine the water level variations MIKE21 Flexible Mesh Hydrodynamic is applied. Water level variations are influenced by tidal variations as well as wind driven storm surges.

Current conditions
Current flows are generated either by tidal water level variations or during storm conditions. MIKE21 Hydrodynamic is normally used to study the effect of storms on the water flow or to get a detailed picture of regular tidal currents in the project area.

Ice loading and wind-wave directional misalignment are included in metocean studies along with weather windows and downtime.

Extreme value analysis
The analysis of metocean data includes establishing design parameters based on extreme value analysis of the available data and/or numerical simulations. Such an analysis may also include joint probability.