TOMAWAC is used to model wave propagation in coastal areas. By means of a finite-element type method, it solves a simplified equation for the spectro-angular density of wave action. This is done for steady-state conditions (i.e. with a fixed depth of water throughout the simulation).

TOMAWAC is particularly simple to use. It can take into account any of the following physical phenomena:

• Wind-generated waves
• Refraction on the bottom
• Refraction by currents
• Dissipation through bathymetric wave breaking
• Dissipation through counter-current wave breaking

At each point of the computational mesh Digitized bathymetry created with the MATISSE software, TOMAWAC calculates the following information:

• Significant wave height
• Mean wave frequency
• Mean wave direction
• Peak wave frequency
• Wave-induced currents
• Radiation stresses

The results are post processed with the RUBENS module that offers the user a wide range of graphs for analyzing the results of simulations:

• Isovalue curves and colored areas (height and phase)
• Vector fields