Sea-Surface Elevation and Directional Wave Finding

Sea-Surface Elevation and Directional Wave Finding

Ekofisk, April 16, 2001, 17:00 UTC
Radar backscatter

WaMoS:

Hs= 4.3 m

Tp = 10.8 s

qp = 355°

lp = 183 m

The data from the radar backscatter image showing the amount of radar return. Red is the highest, and dark Blue is the lowest.

To view an animation of polar images click below. The size of the animation is 4.3 MB

Animation

Ekofisk, April 16, 2001, 17:00 UTC
Frequency direction spectrum derived from the previous image.

Hs= 4.3 m

Tp = 10.8 s

qp = 355°

lp = 183 m

Ekofisk, April 16, 2001, 17:00 UTC
Sea surface elevation

The data from the radar backscatter image is inversion processed to better reveal sea surface elevation. Red is + 4 M (Crest), and dark Blue is -4 Metres (trough)

To view an animation of sea surface elevation images click below. The size of the animation is 1.8 MB

Animation

Wave number spectrum at Ekofisk

May, 29. 2001, 15:05 UTC

Hs = 4.5 m

Tp = 9.2 s

lp = 133 m

CSI = 2.2

g = 3.2

Spr = 1.05

Stp = 0.03

Sea surface elevation map Ekofisk

May, 29. 2001, 15:05 UTC

Data: Phillips Petroleum, MetNo

Note the wave height of 11.44 metres from trough to crest. Also of interest is that the highest crest is localized longitudinally. It would be very possible for a wave buoy to be in the same area, and never record the height of crest or depth of trough.

Directional Wave finding

Ekofisk, April 16, 2001, 17:00 UTC
directional wave finding

qp = 175 °

lmax = 1.5*lp

Hmax = 8.8 m

Nwaves = 739

H1/3 = 4.5 m

The surface elevation scale the same

as the previous image.

Not all waves are travelling in exactly the same direction.

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