PREDICTION OF WIND WAVE HEIGHTS

Descriptions of the process by which energy from wind blowing over water is transferred into the water to create waves have been gradually becoming very complicated. A method of predicting wave heights as a function of wind velocity and fetch is developed which avoids the necessity for describing the complex transfer mechanism in detail. The method is based on simplified macroscopic momentum balance equations written for the air boundary layer. The loss of momentum in the air is assumed to be completely converted into the creation of waves. The resulting equations agree well with standard forecasting curves.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Falvey, H T
• Publication Date: 1974-2

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 1-12
• Serial:
  • Journal of Waterways, Harbors & Coast Eng Div
  • Volume: 100
  • Issue Number: WW1
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Water waves; Wave height; Weather forecasting; Wind; Wind waves
• Old TRIS Terms: Wave forecasting; Wind factors
• Subject Areas: Design; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00057046
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Civil Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: Paper 10324 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1974 12:00AM