Spectral Analysis applied to ocean waves

[Revvie32]

Hi all,

I would appreciate your guidance on the following:

I am currently looking at the area of spectral analysis applied to ocean waves. I have a set of "raw" recorded data of wave height, direction, frequency etc. I understand that spectral analysis is used to validate/process wave data recorded by instruments.

My understanding is that real water waves (to a certain degree at least) behave according to theorectical wave patterns. As such, applying spectral analysis to "raw" data determines the extent to which theoretical wave behaviour matches measured wave behaviour. In this way, outliers or rogue data which do not correspond to theorectical expected patterns can be eliminated/adjusted, thereby yielding more representative results.

Have I more or less understood the principle correctly here? I am an engineer rather than a scientist/mathematician so I don't need to become an expert on the finer details of spectral analysis, a basic level understanding is all that's required!

Many thanks in advance for your help.
Revvie

 

[TonyG]

Hi Revvie,

You have a good understanding of the principle behind spectral analysis applied to ocean waves. Spectral analysis is indeed used to validate and process wave data recorded by instruments, and it is based on the idea that real water waves follow theoretical wave patterns to a certain degree.

By analyzing the spectral content of the raw data, we can determine the extent to which the measured wave behavior matches the expected theoretical patterns. This allows us to identify and eliminate any outliers or rogue data that may not conform to these patterns, resulting in more representative results.

As an engineer, you don't need to become an expert in the finer details of spectral analysis. However, it is important to have a basic understanding of the concept and how it is applied to ocean wave data. I suggest consulting with a scientist or mathematician for further guidance and assistance with the analysis of your data.

Best of luck with your research!