Metocean

Metocean is a special word that combines ideas from two areas of science: meteorology and oceanography. Meteorology is the study of weather, like rain, wind, and storms. Oceanography is the study of the ocean, including its waves, currents, and temperature.

In fields like offshore and coastal engineering, people use the term metocean to understand how weather and ocean conditions work together. This helps engineers design safe and strong structures, such as oil rigs and bridges, that can handle rough seas and stormy weather.

For example, knowing how big waves might get during a storm helps builders make sure ships and buildings stay safe. Metocean information is very important for keeping people and property safe near the ocean.

For more information about the company with a similar name, see MetService.

In offshore and coastal engineering, metocean refers to the syllabic abbreviation of meteorology and (physical) oceanography.

Metocean study

In projects near the ocean or coastline, engineers do something called a metocean study. This helps them understand weather and water conditions so they can make the best choices for their project. As the project grows, they might need to do more detailed studies to make sure everything works well and efficiently.

Metocean conditions

Metocean conditions describe the way wind, waves, and climate behave in a specific place. These conditions are often shown as statistics, including how they change with the seasons, special charts, and the chances of certain events happening.

They can include information about weather, like wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, and humidity. They also cover ocean features, such as changes in sea level, tides, and different types of waves. This helps engineers and scientists understand what to expect in different places and plan safely.

Metocean data

Metocean data helps us understand weather and ocean conditions. This data comes from tools placed in or near the ocean, global models, and satellites. To guess how often very strong waves or storms might happen, we need data from more than one year.

We can also use special computer programs to extend this data. For example, if we don’t have wave measurements close to shore but have data from far away, we can use models to figure out what the waves near shore might look like. Sometimes, we don’t have data about past big storms, but we can estimate wind conditions from those times and use them to calculate what the waves would have been like.