Title :
Wave heights from a 3m discus buoy during Hurricane Katrina
Author :
Bender, L.C., III ; Guinasso, N.L., Jr. ; Walpert, J.N. ; Howden, S.D.
Author_Institution :
Geochem. & Environ. Res. Group, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX
Abstract :
In August 2005 the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed 49 nm to the west of a 3-m discus buoy (USM3m01), in 20 m water depth, operated by the Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System (CenGOOS). Buoy wave heights were measured with an onboard 6-axis accelerometer and from the displacement of a GPS antenna as measured by Real-Time-Kinematic (RTK) GPS. The computed wave heights are compared to the nearby NDBC 42007 buoy and show reasonable agreement for wave heights less than 2-3 m. At higher wave heights there is a potential bias in the wave heights if the buoy´s heel is not accounted for. This is believed to be the result of swell in shallow water, a heel in the buoy caused by wind and currents, and the failure to tilt-correct the accelerometer data.
Keywords :
Global Positioning System; ocean waves; storms; wind; 6-axis accelerometer; AD 2005 08; CenGOOS; Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System; GPS antenna displacement; Hurricane Katrina; NDBC 42007 buoy; Real-Time-Kinematic GPS; USM3m01; buoy wave heights; discus buoy; ocean currents; shallow water swell; wind; Accelerometers; Antenna measurements; Displacement measurement; Global Positioning System; Hurricanes; Instruments; Magnetic sensors; Magnetometers; Sea measurements; Storms;
Conference_Titel :
OCEANS 2008
Conference_Location :
Quebec City, QC
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2619-5
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2620-1
DOI :
10.1109/OCEANS.2008.5152077
