Evaluation of Wamos II Wave Data

WaMoS II is an operational wave monitoring system based on a standard marine X-Band radar generally used for navigation and ship traffic control. The system was basically developed in the 80' ties and is commercially available since 1995. WaMoS II can be operated from fixed platforms as well as from moving vessels. The system is type approved by Det Norske Veritas for the use on board ships travelling with up to 40 knots. In this paper operationally collected WaMoS II wave data are compared to conventionally measured wave data. The measurements are from a deep water off-shore oil platform (Ekofisk, Norway), from an oil shuttle (Navion Oceania, Norway), and from a shallow water coastal station (Helgoland, Germany). For the main sea state parameters, such as significant wave height, peak wave period and peak wave direction, error statistics are applied. Within MaxWave, an EU project funded under the 5^th framework programme, a new method to obtain single wave information from nautical radar images will be developed. Here a method to derive partial wave information from nautical radar images is presented. Phases of partial waves are derived from single pixel. This spatial varying information, represents the local variability in the observed wave field. The resulting phase maps show significant wave crest patterns. These wave crest patterns exhibit the modulation of the ocean waves as they propagate through the observation area.