Wind Wave Regime in the Livadia Area (Southern Coast of the Crimean Peninsula)

Wave characteristics in the Livadia area (southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula) were assessed using the results of retrospective wind wave simulations in the Black Sea obtained using the Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) spectral model. Data from the ERA-Interim and ERA5 global atmospheric reanalyses for 1979–2024 with a spatial resolution of 0.25° were used as the initial wind fields. Wave regime characteristics for the studied water area were assessed using long-term data series of wind speed, significant wave heights, mean and peak wave periods, and mean wave direction. Approximately 43% of all wave events in the Livadia area are characterized by waves with heights not exceeding 0.5 m. Waves with heights of at least 1 m occur in 40% of cases, and the frequency of waves with heights of 2.0 m and higher is 10%. Waves from the northeast, east, and south-southwest directions have the highest frequency (at least 10%). The maximum frequency (23%) is typical for waves from the east. The frequency of storm surges (hs > 2.5 m) is greatest from the east and south directions. Storm waves most often approach from these directions. The longest storms (more than 7 days) occur between November and March. The shortest storm duration (less than 1 day) is observed in May–August.