Comparison of Atlantic Coast Wave Information Study Hindcasts with Field Research Facility Gage Measurements

This report compares summaries of the 1956-1975 Atlantic coast Phase III shallow-water WIs estimates with two measured data sets from the Coastal Engineering Research Center's Field Research Facility (FRF) at Duck, NC. The first consists of 5 years of energy spectra from a Waverider buoy, while the second is 1 year of directional spectra from a high-resolution linear array. Results of the study provide the engineer with a clear understanding of the differences between the WIS estimates and the FRF measurements that will help ensure the appropriate application of the WIS wave information. Following a description of the WIS estimates and the FRF measurements, wave period, height, and direction summaries are compared. The wave periods did not compare well, whereas wave heights did. The wave direction comparison is less conclusive; however, net longshore sediment transport estimates made using the WIS estimates are very close to that using the FRF measurements. (emk)