Prediccion de oleaje generado por dos huracanes en las costas mexicanas del Golfo de Mexico : Evaluation of wave generation induced by two hurricanes on the Mexican coast of the Gulf of Mexico

In this paper the behavior of the WAM model in the prediction of waves induced by hurricanes using wind fields of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis program is evaluated. This is done by simulating the wave fields generated in the Gulf of Mexico by two recent hurricanes: Gilbert (1988) and Isidore (2002). Wave spectra at four points in front of the most important ports of the area are also analyzed. The results of significant wave heights and periods are compared with field measurements from three oceanographic buoys located in the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico. The agreement between model results and measurements is satisfactory.