WIND-GENERATED WAVES IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE

The study of wind generated waves is important because waves affect se diment resuspension in lakes. Measurements of wind velocity and wave e levation were made at three different stations in Lake Okeechobee. Sig nificant wave heights were computed using a direct count from the reco rded data, and verified by the root-mean-square value approach. The co rrelation between wind stress and significant wave height also was ana lyzed. The data revealed a strong correlation. In addition to field me asurements, a Boussinesq-type wind-wave model was developed to simulat e wind-generated, long-propagating waves. This model included the effe cts of wind stress and bottom viscous dissipation. Wave elevation and velocity field were evaluated numerically. A six-day simulation using 1996 wind data was conducted. Simulated significant wave heights were found to agree reasonably well with measured values. A predictive wind -wave model provides information about wind generated waves, which is used to compute bottom sheer stresses required for sediment resuspensi on studies.