The Marine Institute has created a 30-year Hindcast (1994-2023) of modelled wave data for Irish waters, based on an implementation of the SWAN model (Simulating Waves Nearshore) for an area that approximates to the Irish EEZ at a horizontal resolution of 0.025 degrees. This model (Irish_Shelf) is forced by ERA5 winds and utilizes wave boundary data from the CMEMS Global Ocean Waves Reanalysis product.

The modelled wave parameters, available as hourly instantaneous fields, include standard wave parameters such as significant wave height, mean wave period (Tm02), peak wave period, and mean wave direction at hourly intervals. The data is available on request from the Marine Institute.

The Irish_Shelf model has now also been operationalised to produce daily forecasts for Irish waters.