Metocean Conditions in a Norwegian Fjord in Relation to the Floating Bridge Design

Abstract

The present study investigates the environmental conditions in the Sulafjord in Norway, where a floating bridge is being considered for construction. Fifteen months of wave and wind measurement data in the fjord are compared to the hindcast data at a relevant offshore site and a good overall correlation between the two is found. Furthermore, a quantitative relationship between the wave conditions offshore and in the fjord is established based on the storm event analysis. Accordingly, the identified relationship and the 60-year of offshore hindcast data enable the estimation of the design environmental conditions in the fjord, by adapting the fitted marginal and joint distribution of the wave conditions at the offshore site. The present study illustrates the possibility of using more data from the hindcast model for the design when the measurement data are limited.