Parameters of JONSWAP spectral model for surface gravity waves—II. Predictability from real data

Monte Carlo simulation of wave spectra was carried out to provide an assessment of JONSWAP spectral model and parameters. The simulation method is found to be satisfactory because (a) it excludes the spectral variability due to geophysical factors from the sampling errors in the spectral estimates and the statistical uncertainty in determining the model parameters; and (b) the simulated spectra can represent ideal spectral estimates where the sampling errors have been minimized by increasing the degrees of freedom of the spectra. The latter (b) allows both the magnitude of sampling errors to be evaluated and errors due to statistical uncertainty to be isolated. Thus, the stimulation study provides a useful error analysis to assess the JONSWAP spectral model and parameters. For instance, it is found from the results that the sampling errors could be as high as 20% while errors due to uncertainty in determining the model parameter could be as high as 17%. However, the overall errors may be reduced to the minimum of approx. 15% if the simulated spectra have 80 degrees of freedom and constant values of σ_a and σ_b i.e. σ_a = 0.07 and σ_b = 0.09. This implies that the maximum accuracy of 85% may be achieved in JONSWAP spectral model even though the α parameter has been underestimated by about 1.5%. The overestimated values of γ might come from the underestimated α and the biased φ_m estimator caused by the statistical uncertainty in the presence of a sharp spectral peak. Although the scale parameters (α and φ_m) exhibit smaller errors and variability than the shape parameters (ψ, σ_a and σ_b), they are more sensitive to the degrees of freedom of the spectra and their estimators are not better than the estimators of shape parameters. The simulation experiments have also shown that simulated spectra at 20–40 degrees of freedom contain a substantial amount of sampling errors. Therefore, the measured wave spectra at the same degrees of freedom (20–40) are not suitable and should not be used for evaluating the accuracy of any wave spectral model.     

A prospective thermomagnetic temperature transducer

The possibilities of measuring the temperature of seawater as a continuous medium are analysed. It is shown that contemporary thin-film platinum resistance thermometers are inadequate for seawater temperature measurements because of their lag and resolution. The following shortcomings of these thermometers are indicated: heat dissipation by the terminals and the need for them to be hermetically sealed. A prospective improved design is suggested for a thermomagnetic temperature transducer, which provides for the minimal possible lag for the required resolution.Translated by V. Puchkin.     

Dynamic response of dolos armor units to drop test impact loads

Dolos concrete units have been used extensively throughout the world for the protection of shorelines and rubble structures. A three-dimensional finite element model is used to determine the states of dynamic stress in dolosse with varying dimensions and concrete properties. An analytical procedure is developed which accurately predicts the tensile stress in the shank and horizontal fluke of dolosse subject to drop test loading conditions Numerical examples are presented which illustrate the application of prediction and iso-stress equations.     

Seasonal Variations in the Grain Size Distribution and Mineral Composition of Suspended Particulate Matter of the Northern Dvina River

Oceanology - The paper presents the first results of a study of seasonal variations in the grain size distribution and mineral compositions of suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Northern...     

Mesoscale Variability of the Ocean in the Northern Part of the Weddell Sea

Oceanology - Results of a mesoscale survey in the Powell Basin in the northern part of the Weddell Sea are analyzed. The survey included 24 CTD casts (6 × 4) with an interval of six nautical...     

Automatic Profiling System for Underice Measurements

The article is devoted to the development of an autonomous profiling system for measuring the aquatic environment under ice. The system moves up and down in the water column along a cable with a load at the lower end, which is lowered into a lane in the ice. The system carrier is designed for transporting an acoustic Doppler current profiler and a salinity, temperature, and pressure probe. The system will be useful for long-term measurements of vertical profiles of the current speed and marine environment parameters, as well as ice draft. The article describes in detail the structure and operation of the system. The hydraulic scheme of the carrier buoyancy system is presented.

     

Traces of Seismic Activity in Architectural Monuments in Derbent,Dagestan

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - As a result of studies conducted in the city of Derbent, it is established that its monumental fortification structures erected at the end of the 560s...     

Medium-Resolution Optical Range Space Images: Consumer Expectations

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Our survey of various space image consumers identified that the geographic coverage, regularity, and frequency of observations are the most important...