Comparative analysis of hindcast data against wave buoy measurement for a site in the mediterranean sea

Extreme wave events are critical for the safety assessment of offshore structures, coastal dynamics, and climate-impact assessments for regions with complex wave conditions. Accurate representation of typical and extreme sea states requires site-specific validation of hindcast datasets against in-situ observations. To this end, this study evaluates the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service reanalysis dataset using buoy measurements of the Crotone site for 2010-2013. Significant wave height (Hm0) and spectral peak period (Tp) are assessed using standard statistical metrics. Results show strong agreement for Hm0 (R = 0.94), although higher waves (>4 m) are underestimated with a bias of 4.4%. A moderate correlation is observed for Tp, with increased uncertainty for longer periods (>10 s). Peak over threshold analysis indicates underestimation of extreme Hm0 by 4.27% and 6.67% for 50- and 100-year return periods. Event-based comparisons show storm peak underestimation, with mean Hm0,peak differences of 3.28% in winter and 5.88% in spring.