Wave spectra estimated from wave records obtained by the OWS Weather Explorer and the OWS Weather Reporter / by L. Moskowitz, W. J. Pierson Jr., E. Mehr.

TLDR: In this article, selected sequences of the weather maps for the North Atlantic for which wave data were known to be available were studied in detail for the five year period beginning in April 1955 and ending in March 1960.

Abstract: Abstract : As a part of the problem of developing numerical wave forecasting procedures for the North Atlantic Ocean, selected sequences of the weather maps for the North Atlantic for which wave data were known to be available were studied in detail for the five year period beginning in April 1955 and ending in March 1960. Data from a hurricane in September 1961 were also analyzed. Certain dates and times of observations were selected for a variety of reasons for study. For these dates and times, the National Institute of Oceanography provided copies of the wave records that were obtained by the OWS Weather Explorer and by the OWS Weather Reporter. In total, about 800 wave records were provided, and a complete spectral analysis is planned for about 400 of these records. Data are presented in tabular and graphical form of the results of these analyses. The total number of spectra given is 290.

Figures

Table 1. Calibration factors for the Weather Explorer.

Full text

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Wave
Spectra Estimated from Wave Records Obtained by
the OWS WEATHER
EXPLORER and
the OWS WEATHER REPORTER (I)
By
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W.
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Technical Report
Prepared
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Navy
Oceanographic
Office
under
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N62306-1042
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Wave Spectra
Estimated from
Wave
Records
Obtained
by
the
OWS
WEATHER
EXPLORER
and
the
OWS WEATHER
REPORTER
(I)
by
L. Moskowitz
W.
J.
Pierson,
Jr.
E. Mehr
Technical
Report
Prepared
for
U. S. Navy
Oceanographic
Office
under
contract
N62306-1042
Reproduction
in whole
or
in
part
is
permitted
for
any
purpose
of
the
United
States
Government.
November
1962

Introduction
As a part
of the
problem of
developing numerical wave
forecasting procedares
for the
North Atlantic Ocean,
selected se-
quences of the
weather maps
for the North
Atlantic
for which wave
data
were known to be
available
were
studied in detail
for
the
five
year period beginning in
April 1955
and ending in
March
I960.
Certain dates and
times
of observations
were
selected for a
variety
of reasons
for
study.
For
these dates and
times,
the National Insti-
tute of
Oceanography
provided copies
of
the wave records that
were
obtained
by the OWS
Weather
Explorer and by
the OWS
Weather Reporter.
In total, about
800 wave
records
were provided, and a
complete
spectral analysis is
planned for about
400 of these
records.
This report is
the first of a
series of reports to present
in
tabular and
graphical form the results
of these
analyses.
The total
nximber of spectra given is
114.
Analysis procedures
The
original wave records
varied in length,
but almost all
of this
first
set
were
15
minutes
long. The
crest to trough
heights
of
the highest
waves in a particular
record
(uncorrected for cali-
bration
effects)
varied from
a
few
feet to
more than 60
feet
in
the
complete
set
of records. Bounds
were set on
each record just above
the highest wave
crest and just
below the lowest wave trough, and
the records were read to
an accuracy
of
one
part
in a
thousand
(nominally) over this range at an
interval of
1.5 seconds throughout
the record. Thus a
15 minute
record was reduced to a time
series