A WAVE CLIMATOLOGY FOR U.S. COASTAL WATERS

In a program conducted by the Coastal Engineering Research Center, cumulative wave height distribution functions, from 10 wave gages operated by this agency over the past 20 years along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts have been examined in the format of the exponential distribution. Based on this study, the authors have determined that one complete year of data at six observations per day, appears to yield a reliable wave height distribution up to the one percent level of occurrence. Further, wave data from shipboard weather reports when compared to wave gage data were found to be of some use in describing long term summaries of coastal wave height conditions. A brief discussion of data acquisition procedures and interpretation precedes a general discussion of wave climatology.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at 4th Annual Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, May 1-3, 1972. Abstracts prepared by Army Coastal Engineering Research Service.
• Corporate Authors:

  Offshore Technology Conference

  6200 North Central Expressway
  Dallas, TX  United States  45206
• Authors:
  • Thompson, E F
  • Harris, D L
• Conference:
  • Presented at 4th Annual Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, May 1-3, 1972. Abstracts prepared by Army Coastal Engineering Research Service.
• Publication Date: 1972-5

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 675-680
• Serial:
  • Volume: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climatology; Physical distribution; Wave height; Waves
• Old TRIS Terms: Wave climatology
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050924
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Maritime Research Center, Galveston
• Report/Paper Numbers: OTC 1693
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 15 1974 12:00AM