Global distributions of wave energy and wave power
| D J T Carter(1), P D Cotton(2), C G A Davies(2)
and S Juden(1) |
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(1) Satellite Observing Systems, Godalming,
Surrey, GU7 1EL, UK
(2)Southampton Oceanography Centre, Southampton,
SO14 3ZH, UK
djc satobsys.co.uk
http://www.satobsys.co.uk/
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Abstract
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Wave energy is readily estimated from satellite altimeter
measurements of significant wave height, and is a more
meaningful physical descriptor than wave height.
Calculations using satellite altimeter data show the
global wave energy to be around 15 Petajoule. The monthly
mean energy in 2 deg latitude x 2 deg longitude bins
are calculated from data obtained routinely during the
past ten years, since the launch of Geosat; and these are
analysed to investigate the spatial and temporal variations
in wave energy. Attempts to delineate areas of
significant change during the decade emphasise the
importance of careful cross-calibration between measurements
from different satellites.
The calculation of wave power - the rate of transmission
of wave energy - requires knowledge of wave period as well
as wave height. A recently proposed algorithm to obtain
zero-upcrossing wave period from altimeter measurements is
employed to investigate the possibility of getting estimates
of the magnitude and temporal variability in wave power
of use to those investigating the possible commercial
extraction of wave energy.
Keywords: Wave power, Wave energy, Satellite Altimetry,
Remote Sensing
Keywords: ESA European
Space Agency - Agence spatiale europeenne,
observation de la terre, earth observation,
satellite remote sensing,
teledetection, geophysique, altimetrie, radar,
chimique atmospherique, geophysics, altimetry, radar,
atmospheric chemistry
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