Spectral growth of hurricane generated seas
Publisher: Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 75
Description: The characteristics of a growing sea during hurricanes are significantly different from those observed in ordinary storms since the source of energy generating waves is moving and the rate of change of wind speed is very fast. This thesis presents the results of a study on the growth of sea severity during hurricanes with the aid of a wave spectral formulation representing the associated sea conditions. Through analysis of spectra obtained from wave data during the growing stage of five hurricanes, it is found that the Modified JONSWAP spectral formulation well represents field data over a wide range of frequencies. This enables us to evaluate the general trend of the growth of a hurricane generated sea by applying the Modified JONSWAP spectrum. The two parameters (significant wave height and modal frequency) involved in the Modified JONSWAP spectrum are presented as a function of wind speed which permits the presentation of the growth of the wave spectrum as a function of wind speed. It is found that, during the growing stage of a hurricane, the increase in wave energy in the neighborhood of the modal frequency is much greater than that at any other frequency of the spectrum.
Notes: Thesis (M.S. in Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering)--University of Florida, Dec. 1997.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-74).

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