Wavenumber Spectra of Wind Waves in the Range of 1-50m.

Abstract : A new method of analysing wave directional data is applied to wave staff data from Lake Ontario during 106 episodes covering a range of wind speeds (up to 16 m/s) and significant heights (up to 2.5m). The method yields wavenumber spectra directly and examples are shown of downwind slices through the full 2-D wavenumber spectrum. These spectra are steeper than the conventional view would suggest, tending asymptotically to k(exp -5) at high wavenumbers with respect to the peak. On the other hand, the spectral peaks of the individual runs follow a steepness limited k(exp -4) pattern.