Wave Grouping in Locally Generated Seas on Short Fetches

Abstract

Wave staff data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Floating Breakwater Prototype Test Program in Puget Sound, Wash., are analyzed for wave grouping. Most previous studies have focussed on ocean conditions, where fetches, propagation distances, and wave periods are much longer than in Puget Sound. Probabilities for groups of various length closely match previous numerical simulations. Thus grouping in short‐fetch, locally generated seas at this site is well predicted by linear combination of spectral components. Sequences of waves within groups show no strong, physically justifiable trends. There is no evidence that very high waves tend to occur together in the same groups. Data are included on wave groups above the significant height and several other thresholds.