WAVE PREDICTIONS BASED ON SCATTER DIAGRAM DATA - A COMPUTER-PROGRAM PACKAGE

This paper describes a user-friendly computer program package containi ng an approach for the prediction of extreme waves based on the extrap olation of the scatter diagram of significant wave height H-s and mean zero-upcrossing period T-z. Following the validity tests of data inpu t, the computer program takes into account the existence of missing da ta and calms and includes routines for the treatment of various theore tical descriptions of H-s. Sensitivity studies have been completed to appraise the changes in wave predictions due to missing data considere d either as calms or instrument failure and due to inadequacies of mea surement systems to record low T-z values. The possible influence of c urrents on extreme wave height predictions has also been taken into ac count. For example purposes, the computer program is used for the pred iction of extreme wave heights in a location (Morecambe Bay, UK) where wave data (scatter diagrams) are available.