CGWAVE (Panchang & Xu  1995) is a 2D finite element model based on the elliptic mild-slope wave  equation. It is similar to wave models HARBD (Chen and Mei 1974) and PHAROS (Kostense et al. 1986). CGWAVE can simultaneously simulate the effects of  refraction, diffraction, reflections by bathymetry and structures, dissipation due to friction and breaking, and nonlinear amplitude dispersion. The  computational capabilities of CGWAVE model permit the modeling of large coastal regions. The governing equations of CGWAVE pass, in the limit, to the deep and  shallow water equations, making this model applicable to a wide range of  frequencies, including short wind waves, swell, and infra-gravity waves.