Design waves for the South African coastline
Date
1989-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Several aspects related to the estimation and selection of design wave
conditions were investigated.
An analysis program which includes strict quality control routines was
developed for digital Waverider data. All available Waverider data from
deepsea records were analysed with this program.
A remarkable similarity in simultaneously recorded wave heights between Cape
Town and Port Elizabeth was found. This similarity was used to compile a near
continuous wave record over an eight year period for the Southern Cape coast.
The 10537 values of significant wave height (Hmo) which made up the record
for the Southern Cape were found to give a good visual fit to the Extreme I and
Log-normal distributions over the entire range of Hmo values.
Design wave heights derived from the Extreme I distribution were found to be
insensitive to assumptions regarding the independence and identical
distribution of the wave height samples and the method used for parameter
estimation.
Design wave heights for the coastline between Oranjemund and Port Elizabeth
were found to be strongly correlated to the latitude of the recording site.
High waves along these coasts are invariably caused by the passage of cold
fronts past the southern tip of the continent. Wave heights reduce as the
distance from the west to east route of these cold fronts increase, thus the
reason for the abovementioned correlation.
No deepwater wave records are available east of Port Elizabeth. Shallow water
records indicate that a reduction in wave height can be expected between Port
Elizabeth and East London.
Description
Thesis (PhD (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 1989.
Keywords
Theses -- Civil engineering, Waverider data, Design wave heights, Dissertations -- Civil engineering, Ocean waves -- South Africa, Wave recorders