A High-Resolution, Ocean Wave Gauge Array System

The sensor system reported here was developed to distinguish strongly nonlinear from linear ocean wind waves by resolving both temporal and spatial variations of sea surface elevation. A 15-element array of elevation sensors, a 2-axis current meter, a 3-axis accelerometer and wind sensors were rigidly mounted together to form the system. The primary requirement of each individual elevation sensor was that it have a wide dynamic response and operate independently in the array. A capacitance-type water level transducer was chosen, constructed, tested and designed to measure and record vertical fluctuations of the sea surface in the gravity band of the ocean wave frequency spectrum. The array was designed to respond to the wide space-time dynamic ranges exhibited by wind waves.