Metocean data-cube for port and coastal studies

Port, harbour and coastal studies all rely on quality oceanographic data to ensure that the ambient and extremes of the metocean climate can be appropriately represented. Numerical hindcasting techniques provide an efficient and cost effective method to generate these data. With local measurements for calibration and validation, the oceanic and coastal processes and historical events can be replicated with high accuracy. Advances in modelling code and the ready availability of processing capacity means that hindcast scenarios can now be run for longer periods, over larger domains, at higher resolution, with shorter time-steps and more parameters. The wealth of data produced in this manner leads to new opportunities for analysis and subsequent interpretation of the physical environment. Here, a 4- dimensional model hindcast archive is described (the data-cube), from which a range of combined spatial and time-series analysis can be undertaken. The integrated modelling methods are detailed and examples are provided for a variety of applications; from regional-scale wave climate analysis, down to port-scale storm extrema.