Measurements of Directional Wave Spectra and Wind Stress from a Wave Glider Autonomous Surface Vehicle

Abstract

AbstractMethods for measuring waves and winds from a Wave Glider autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) are described and evaluated. The wave method utilizes the frequency spectra of orbital velocities measured by GPS, and the wind stress method utilizes the frequency spectra of turbulent wind fluctuations measured by an ultrasonic anemometer. Both methods evaluate contaminations from vehicle motion. The methods were evaluated with 68 days of data over a full range of open ocean conditions, in which wave heights varied from 1 to 8 m and wind speeds varied from 1 to 17 m s−1. Reference data were collected using additional sensors on board the vehicle. For the waves method, several additional datasets are included that use independently moored Datawell Waverider buoys as reference data. Bulk wave parameters are determined within 5% error with biases of less than 5%. Wind stress is determined within 4% error with 1% bias. Wave directional spectra also compare well, although the Wave Glider results have more spread at low frequencies.