Estimating Maximum Significant Wave Height and Dominant Wave Period inside Tropical Cyclones
Abstract
Making use of the fetch- and duration-limited nature of wind-wave growth inside tropical cyclones, an algorithm is developed to estimate the maximum significant wave height and dominant wave period of surface waves generated by tropical cyclone wind fields. The results of the maximum significant wave height and dominant wave period are further approximated by simple power functions of the maximum wind speed. The exponents of the power functions are almost constant, and the proportionality coefficients can be approximated by second-order polynomial functions of the radius of maximum wind speed (RMW). The predicted maximum values agree well with results derived from simultaneous wind and wave measurements obtained during 11 hurricane reconnaissance and research missions in six hurricanes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 03, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1175/waf-d-17-0186.1
Entities
People
- Edward J. Walsh
- Paul Hwang
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Naval Research Laboratory