Analysis of wave system generation zones in the southeast Pacific using spatial tracking methods

Ocean waves are generally a superposition of wave systems from different meteorological events (e.g., extratropical cyclones). While spectral partitioning can identify individual wave systems at specific grid points, it fails to preserve their spatial coherence, resulting in disorganized partitioned wave fields that hinder physical interpretation. This study evaluates two spatial tracking algorithms, namely WAVEWATCH III (WW3) method and JIANG method, to reconstruct spatially coherent wave fields and investigate wave generation zones in the southeast Pacific. The tracking results are validated against simulations driven by artificially segmented wind fields. Results indicate that wave systems affecting the southeast Pacific primarily originate from meteorological events within the southeast trade winds, the southern storm belt, and the northern storm belt. The WW3 method is prone to tracking discontinuities, whereas the JIANG method improves continuity by merging events with matching boundaries but often over-merges events that share similar generation patterns. Both methods exhibit limitations when dealing with wave systems that have similar parameters but distinct origins, as their tracking logic primarily relies on the spatial gradient of wave parameters. Despite these limitations, spatial tracking methods effectively reconstruct physically interpretable wave fields and provide practical support for wave source identification.