Measuring the wave climate off Norfolk, Virginia, to improve beach management solutions

摘要

Since March 2006, a wave gage has been deployed approximately one mile off the Norfolk Virginia shoreline in Chesapeake Bay. These wave data have improved the understanding of the wave climate in the region and aided in the development of shoreline protection, enhancement, and sustainability solutions for the city of Norfolk. It has also provided valuable insight into the bimodal nature of the wave climate. The wave climate is influenced by exposure to longer period ocean swells through the bay mouth to the east and shorter period wind generated waves along the considerable fetch of the bay from the north. Several large storm events have been measured with maximum wave heights of almost 18 feet being recorded. The average wave climate over the 8 years has an average significant wave height of 1.2 feet with an associated average peak wave period of 5.1 seconds.