Spectral features of the New Zealand deep‐water ocean wave climate |
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Authors: | Kevin C Ewans Alick C Kibblewhite |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Physics , University of Auckland , Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand;2. Shell Internationale Petroleum Maatschappij B.V. , P. O. Box 162 2501 AN, The Hague, The Netherlands;3. Department of Physics , University of Auckland , Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | The wave climate at the Maui site off the west coast of the North Island and off the east coast of Great Barrier Island to the east of the North Island are examined. This is done by means of average wave spectra derived from a 2‐year database, acquired from Waverider buoy measurements made over 1980 and 1981. The average spectra provide information about the individual sea states which characterise the wave climate, and show that on average the sea state on the east coast is less energetic than it is on the west coast. Further, it is seen that this difference results largely from a dominant and persistent long‐period south‐westerly swell of 12.4 s period which is present at the Maui location but absent from the Great Barrier Island seas. |
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Keywords: | ocean waves swell local sea wave spectra average spectra spectral statistics sea state west coast east coast Maui Great Barrier Island |
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