Ocean measurements: waves, currents, wind and sea state data
Metocean parameters for planning, design and offshore operations, from models and observations.
Ocean measurements describe the physical conditions at sea: waves, currents, wind, tides and water level. Darkocean assembles this information from satellite-derived and model datasets for your location. It supports offshore planning, survey design and operational decisions.
Plus tides and sea level
Open datasets such as Copernicus Marine
Hindcast for statistics
CSV, NetCDF or GIS layers
What are ocean measurements?
Metocean data covers the meteorological and oceanographic conditions that act on offshore work. Significant wave height, wave period and direction determine vessel motion. Currents determine tow loads, ROV limits and drift. Wind drives waves and affects lifting and flight operations. Tides and surge set water levels for depth reduction.
No single instrument gives this everywhere. Moored buoys and current meters measure at one point. Satellite altimeters measure sea level and wave height along tracks. Numerical models fill the gaps, producing gridded hindcasts that, validated against observations, give a continuous record.
Darkocean combines these sources for your area to produce statistics such as typical and extreme wave heights, current speeds by season, and the proportion of time conditions are workable for a given operation.
Model and satellite data have limits: coarse resolution close to shore, and gaps near coasts. Where a design decision depends on site-specific values, in-situ measurement with a buoy or ADCP is recommended.
How it works
Define
Set the location, parameters and the period the data must cover.
Gather
Collect observation and model datasets for the area.
Validate
Compare sources with each other and with any local measurements.
Analyse
Derive statistics, seasonal patterns and extremes.
Deliver
Provide data files, plots and a short interpretation.
What you receive
Data
a. Time series files
b. Gridded map layers
c. Tidal and water level records
Statistics
a. Seasonal wave and current summaries
b. Workability and weather window tables
Where it is used
Survey planningChoose the season and vessel for a multibeam or AUV campaign.
Offshore designProvide input conditions for platforms, cables and pipelines.
Port and coastal worksUnderstand wave climate at harbours and breakwaters.
DredgingEstimate downtime from waves and currents.
Tidal reductionSupply water levels for sounding corrections.
Environmental studiesDescribe circulation for dispersion and discharge assessments.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real measurements or model data?
Both. Satellite and in-situ observations anchor the data, and validated numerical models provide continuous coverage. The mix is stated for every dataset.
Can you give data for a specific coordinate?
Yes, for any offshore or coastal point. Resolution depends on the source, and very nearshore points may need local measurement.
Is the data suitable for engineering design?
It is suitable for screening and feasibility. Detailed design usually calls for site-specific measurement and a formal metocean study.
How is this different from the weather forecast?
Ocean measurements describe conditions that were observed or modelled, often over many years. Forecasts predict the next few days.
What sea conditions will your project face?
Tell us the location and operation and we will assemble the relevant ocean data.
