Wave measurements are recorded in bursts containing pressure, velocity, and/or surface tracking data (see Measurement principles). To obtain meaningful wave parameters, these burst data must be processed.
The most common wave parameters describe the height, period, and direction of the wave field. These parameters are statistical descriptors derived from the burst time series. The processed wave data therefore consist of a time series of wave parameters, typically one set of parameters per wave burst. Wave processing can be performed either internally in the instrument to provide real-time output or externally during post-processing.
Different processing methods provide alternative approaches for estimating the directional wave spectrum from which the wave parameters are calculated.
Depending on the instrument type, different measurements may be available within the wave burst. The information you have dictates how you can process the data. The articles in this section describe the wave processing methods available for Nortek instruments and explain their applicability, assumptions, and limitations. The derivation and interpretation of the resulting wave parameters are described in Chapter 4.
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