Wind and wave climatology on the New England Shelf, May 1987-August 1988

Abstract

Wave power spectra from four waverider buoys on the New England Shelf and wind velocity records from three of those buoys and a fixed platform were analyzed. The data span the period from May 1987 through August 1988. Time series plots of significant wave height, mean wave period and modal (peak) period and distribution histograms of significant wave height, mean frequency and modal frequency are presented for the two buoys nearest to Martha's Vineyard. Time series plots of wind speed and vector velocity and distribution histograms of speed and direction are plotted for one buoy and the platform. For all stations, monthly and seasonal mean and extreme values of significant wave height, mean and modal wave periods, wind speed and mean weighted and unweighted values of wind direction are provided in tabular form. Five and ten year extreme wave height predictions are also calculated.