Ocean wave tracing v.1: A numerical solver of the wave ray equations for ocean waves on variable currents at arbitrary depths.

Abstract

Abstract. Lateral changes in the group velocity of waves propagating in oceanic or coastal waters causes a deflection in their propagation path. The change in direction is called refraction and can be computed if having information about the ambient current field and/or the bathymetry. We present an open source module for solving the wave ray equations by means of numerical integration in Python v3, which is relevant for ocean applications. The solver is implemented for waves at arbitrary depths and for an ambient current field with spatio-temporal variability much lower than characteristic wave properties. The wave ray tracing module is implemented in a class structure, and the output is verified against analytical solutions as well as tested for numerical convergence. The solver is accompanied by a set of ancillary functions with the aim of supporting relevant workflows for the user community including data retrieval, transformation, and dissemination, and a number of use examples are provided.