Measurements of Surface Gravity Waves under Typhoon Megi 2010

Je-Yuan Hsu, Applied Physics Laboratory, Seattle, WA, United States, Ren-Chieh Lien, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Thomas Bayes Sanford, Univ Washington, Applied Physics Lab, Seattle, WA, United States and Eric A D'Asaro, Applied Physics Laboratory University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
Abstract:
Surface gravity wave properties are estimated using measurements taken from seven EM-APEX floats deployed under Typhoon Megi during the ITOP (Impact of Typhoons on the Ocean in the Pacific) field experiment. Vertical profiles of high-frequency velocity variance are used to compute surface wave properties. Assuming a JONSWAP surface wave model spectrum, the peak frequency and spectral level at the peak frequency are calculated using the least squares fit method. Significant wave height and mean wave period are estimated. An error analysis focusing on the JONSWAP spectral shape assumption and float measurement uncertainties is performed using the simulation results of the surface wave field under Typhoon Megi predicted by the WAVEWATCH III model.
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