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Title: Analysis of wave directionality from a heave, pitch and roll buoy operated offshore Norway

Journal Article · · Ocean Sci. Eng.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6507355

Routine measurements of surface waves at sea are dominated by systems which utilize the doubly integrated accelerometer signal from a floating buoy. Such measurements generally comprise only the registration of wave height. Various methods with different degrees of sophistication can be used to measure the directional properties of waves. These include a variety of heave/pitch/roll buoys, wave measuring arrays, radar techniques, current meter techniques and photographic methods. This paper presents the experience with a heave/pitch/roll buoy off the Norwegian coast. The buoy has been in operation there since January 1980 as part of a large oceanographic measuring program financed jointly by the Norwegian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and three Norwegian oil companies. The calibration and field testing of the buoy heave response and meteorological sensor performance indicate good agreement with reference values. Data recovery has also been satisfactory. The directional results appear to have good physical backing. There is good correlation between wind and wave fields in the high frequency band, the Norwegian coastal shadow is clearly seen at low frequency, and veering winds are shown to give an increased spreading around the mean.

Research Organization:
Continental Shelf Institute, Trondheim
OSTI ID:
6507355
Journal Information:
Ocean Sci. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 7:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English