Comparison Between Directional Wave Measurements from the RDI Workhorse with Waves and the Datawell Waverider in a Region With Distinct Sea and Swell

Gus Jeans¹, Cathryn Primrose², Nathalie Descusse¹, Brandon Strong³ and Paul van Weert⁴

¹Fugro GEOS Limited, Gemini House, Hargreaves Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 5AL UK
²Fugro GEOS Inc., 6100 Hillcroft, Houston, TX 77274, United States
³RD Instruments, 9855 Businesspark Avenue, San Diego, CA 92131-1101, United States
⁴Shell Global Solutions International BV, P.O. Box 541, 2501 CM The Hague, The Netherlands

Directional wave measurements from an RDI Workhorse with Waves are compared with those from the traditional Datawell Directional Waverider buoy. The measurements were conducted simultaneously at the same shallow water location over the period of several months. The wave climate at the study location exhibits distinct wind-sea and swell components from different directions. The two measurement techniques are contrasted and the necessary quality control is discussed. Methods for the computation of full directional spectra are described, and the functionality of the RDI WavesMon software is reviewed. Methods to separate sea and swell are considered.