Using wavelet spectrum analysis to resolve breaking events in the wind wave time series

P. C. Liu (1) , A. V. Babanin (2)

1 GLERL - NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
2 Swinburne University of Technology [Melbourne]

This paper presents the development of a new approach, based on wavelet spectrum analysis, for the detection of breaking waves in a time series of surface wave fluctuations. The approach is shown to be capable of producing equivalent wave breaking statistics as field measurements based on detection of whitecaps at a fixed point of observation. This wavelet-based approach is applicable to both deep water and finite depth environments. Based on applications of this approach to the analysis of available field data, a novel classification of wave breaking processes that consists of incipient, developing, and subsiding phases is proposed.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère; Sciences de la Terre

P. C. Liu, A. V. Babanin. Using wavelet spectrum analysis to resolve breaking events in the wind wave time series. Annales Geophysicae, 2004, 22 (10), pp.3335-3345. ⟨hal-00317663⟩