09/06/2026
Ocean wave forecasting has come a long way from simple estimates of sea conditions based on the wind. Today, it reflects a sophisticated understanding of how waves interact with the wider Earth system.
Waves are increasingly recognised as a key link connecting the atmosphere, ocean and climate, making them essential for understanding and predicting our changing planet.
At ECMWF, ocean waves are simulated within our Earth system model, using the ecWAM wave modelling component.
This component represents the sea surface as a two-dimensional spectrum of wave energy distributed across frequencies and directions. The model then calculates how this spectrum evolves over time by representing key processes:
• how the wind generates waves
• how waves interact with each other
• how wave energy dissipates
• how waves propagate across the ocean
This enables the model to describe how waves grow, travel and decay across the global ocean.
Find out more about the ecWAM model compontent
➡️https://www.ecmwf.int/en/about/media-centre/focus/2026/ocean-wave-forecasting
