Wave height

In fluid dynamics, the wave height of a surface wave denotes the difference between the elevations of a crest and a neighbouring trough.Kinsman (1984) p. 38.] Wave height is a term used by mariners, as well as in coastal, ocean engineering and naval engineering.

At sea, the term significant wave height is used as a means to introduce a well-defined and standardized statistic to denote the characteristic height of the random waves in a sea state. It is defined in such a way that it more–or–less corresponds to what a mariner observes when estimating visually the average wave height.

Several definitions for different situations

*For a "sine wave", the wave height "H" is twice the amplitude:

:$H,\; =,\; 2,a.$

*For a "periodic wave" it is simply the difference between the maximum and minimum of the surface elevation "z" = ("x" – "c"_p "t"):

:$H,\; =,\; maxleft\{\; eta(x,-,c\_p,t)\; ight\},\; -,\; minleft\{\; eta(x,-,c\_p,t)\; ight\},$

:with "c"_p the phase speed (or propagation speed) of the wave. The sine wave is a specific case of a periodic wave.

*In random waves at sea, when the surface elevations are measured with a wave buoy, the "individual wave height" "H" of each individual wave is the difference in elevation between a wave crest and trough in that wave. For this to possible, it is necessary to first split the measured time series of the surface elevation into individual waves. Commonly, an individual wave is denoted as the time interval between two successive downward-crossings of the average surface elevation (upward crossings might also be used). Then the individual wave height of each wave is again the difference between maximum and minimum elevation in the time interval of the wave under consideration.Holthuijsen (2007) p. 24–28.]

*"Significant wave height" "H"_1/3, in the "time domain", is defined as the average height of the one-third part of the measured waves — "N" in number — having the largest wave heights:

:$H\_\{1/3\},\; =,\; frac\{1\}\{frac13,N\},\; sum\_\{m=1\}^\{frac13,N\},\; H\_m,$

:with "H"_m the individual wave heights, sorted in such a way that the highest wave has "m"=1 and the lowest wave is for "m"="N". Only the highest one-third is used, since this corresponds best with visual observations of experienced mariners, since eyes and brain apparently focus on the higher waves seen.

*"Significant wave height" "H"_m0, defined in the the "frequency domain", is used both for measured and forecasted wave variance spectra. Most easily, it is defined in terms of the variance "m"₀ or standard deviation "σ"_"η" of the surface elevation: [Holthuijsen (2007) p. 70.]

:$H\_\{m\_0\},\; =,\; 4,\; m\_0,\; =,\; 4,\; sigma\_eta,$

:where "m"₀ is obtained by integration of the variance spectrum. In case of a measurement, the standard deviation "σ"_"η" the easiest and most accurate statistic to be used.

*Another wave-height statistic in common usage is the "root-mean-square wave height" (or "RMS wave height") "H"_rms, defined as:

:$H\_\{rms\},\; =,\; sqrt\{\; frac\{1\}\{N\},\; sum\_\{m=1\}^N\; H\_m^2\},$

:with "H"_m again denoting the individual wave heights in a certain time series.

See also

*Ocean surface wave
*Sea state
*Significant wave height

Notes

References

*Citation | title=Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters | first=Leo H. | last=Holthuijsen | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2007 | isbn=0521860288 , 387 pages.
*Citation | last=Kinsman | first=Blair | title=Wind waves: their generation and propagation on the ocean surface | year=1984 | publisher=Dover Publications | isbn=0-486-49511-6 , 704 pages.
*Citation | first=Owen M. | last=Phillips | title=The dynamics of the upper ocean | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=1977 | edition=2^nd | isbn=0-521-29801-6 , viii & 336 pages.