Open AccessPREDICTION OF DOMINANT WAVE PROPERTIES AHEAD OF HURRICANES
Author(s) -
O. H. Shemdin
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
proceedings of conference on coastal engineering/proceedings of ... conference on coastal engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2156-1028
pISSN - 0589-087X
DOI - 10.9753/icce.v17.36
Subject(s) - fetch , meteorology , wind speed , wave shoaling , wind wave , geology , wave height , northern hemisphere , climatology , physics , wave propagation , optics , mechanical wave , longitudinal wave , oceanography
A method is proposed for predicting properties of dominant waves in the forward region of hurricanes where the waves are found to propagate predominantly in the direction of hurricane forward travel. An extended fetch concept is used in which each wave component is exposed to the action of wind over a fetch length that is determined by wave group speed, hurricane forward speed, and location with respect to eye. Maximum extended fetches are found to the right of the eye (with respect to direction of hurricane travel) in the northern hemisphere. The method correctly predicts dominant wave frequencies and significant wave heights. The prediction method utilizes recently developed concepts in wave generation and energy transfer among wave spectral components; the predicted values are compared favorably with observations.