Database of extreme waves generated during the passage of a cold front in Rio Grande do Sul coast, southern Brazil

This datapaper supports the use of a database generated from wavefield simulations with the WAVEWATCH III model in waters off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul in the South Atlantic Ocean. In the WAVEWATCH III simulations, three domains are generated as a part of a numerical experiment to set up the best configuration. This database includes all input and output files for the two best-fit simulations. Bathymetry and wind files at 10 m above the surface are available as input files. The period of simulation and non-stationary wind data input corresponds to March 22-28, 2016. The date was chosen because it is related to the passage of a cold front through the area of interest. The different parameterizations used and with which good results were obtained in the simulations with the model are also described. The WAVEWATCH III output files contain the spatial and temporal distribution of the wavefield in the area of interest, as well as the outputs for point locations consistent with the location of on-site records. For the two best-fit domains, the following variables were obtained: mean wind speed (m s-1), sea-air temperature difference (°C), wave height (m), mean wavelength (m), mean wave period (s), mean wave direction (degrees), mean directional propagation (degrees) and friction velocity (m s-1). All these variables are provided in NetCDF format and will serve as a reference for future wave modeling work in the region, and the results will be able to be compared with those obtained in the database.