Statistical properties of ocean wave groups

Abstract

Abstract : Individual wave groups were identified by an analysis of digitized wave records. The analysis technique is based on a comparison between short-term variance and wave record variance. Once wave groups were identified, wave parameters of interest were then derived. Analysis was performed on 338 wave records obtained from a Waverider buoy covering a wide range of height, period, and steepness. Statistical relationships between the parameters obtained were determined for all wave groups, and for selected extreme wave groups. It was found that as the relative energy of the group increases the number of wavers per group increases, and the average group period approaches the spectral peak period. Wave steepness was shown, however, not to depend upon the group energy. Groups from low steepness wave records tend to contain larger numbers of waves. It was also shown that the height of the single highest wave in a group tends to approximate the significant height of the wave record. (Author)