SURFACE WAVES ON THE OCEAN
Abstract
A bottom-mounted narrow-beam active sonar has been designed, built and operated to measure wave height in the open ocean. The experiments were carried out at a depth of 145 feet. The apparatus is capable of measuring wave height at depths ranging from 25 to 200 feet without modification,AND TO 500 FEET WITH A MINIMUM OF DEVELOPMENT. The amplitude resolution of the wave measurements was a fraction of 1 inch, and the spatial resolution on the surface of the ocean was approximately 24 inches. The wave data has been processed by digital methods, and the autocorrelation functions and power spectra of the ocean waves have been computed. The experiments have shown that it is possible to measure the statistical properties of surface waves in the ocean with great precision. It has also been shown that the instrumentation has high reliability and longevity. An induced surface wave pattern was not generated for measurement at this time due to geographic location and shallowness of water in the instrumented area. It is believed, however, that the apparatus is fully capable of making such measurements, and it is recommended that induced surface wave pattern studies be carried out in the future. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0275815
Entities
People
- C.g. Mcilwraith
- P.f.r. Weyers
- S.d. Hays
Organizations
- General Dynamics