AUTHOR=Babanin Alexander V. , Rogers W. Erick , de Camargo Ricardo , Doble Martin , Durrant Tom , Filchuk Kirill , Ewans Kevin , Hemer Mark , Janssen Tim , Kelly-Gerreyn Boris , Machutchon Keith , McComb Peter , Qiao Fangli , Schulz Eric , Skvortsov Alex , Thomson Jim , Vichi Marcello , Violante-Carvalho Nelson , Wang David , Waseda Takuji , Williams Greg , Young Ian R. TITLE=Waves and Swells in High Wind and Extreme Fetches, Measurements in the Southern Ocean JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science VOLUME=6 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00361 DOI=10.3389/fmars.2019.00361 ISSN=2296-7745 ABSTRACT=

The generation and evolution of ocean waves by wind is one of the most complex phenomena in geophysics, and is of great practical significance. Predictive capabilities of respective wave models, however, are impaired by lack of field in situ observations, particularly in extreme Metocean conditions. The paper outlines and highlights important gaps in understanding the Metocean processes and suggests a major observational program in the Southern Ocean. This large, but poorly investigated part of the World Ocean is home to extreme weather around the year. The observational network would include distributed system of buoys (drifting and stationary) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASV), intended for measurements of waves and air-sea fluxes in the Southern Ocean. It would help to resolve the issues of limiting fetches, extreme Extra-Tropical cyclones, swell propagation and attenuation, wave-current interactions, and address the topics of wave-induced dispersal of floating objects, wave-ice interactions in the Marginal Ice Zone, Metocean climatology and its connection with the global climate.