Study of wind waves using satellite altimetry in the coast of south-western Caspian Sea (Gilan Province)

Abstract

Waves are an important phenomena in the sea but in view of complicated nature are difficult to study. This research, with the aim of showing a primary research on satellite altimetry, studied significant wave height in offshore waters near Gilan province in the south-east of Caspian region during 2014. So wave’s data including significant wave height and wind speed were obtained in a time interval from satellite. The significant wave height data were verified with buoy significant wave height data and their graphs generated. Using wave data and SPM method, the significant wave height and wave period obtained. The contour figure of significant wave height was depicted. The comparison of satellite significant wave height data and result of SPM method by buoy data showed that the satellite data has less error than SPM method result. The result of this research has shown that the effective parameters on wind waves are formation of high and low pressure atmospheric system. The maximum value of mean altimetry significant wave height is 0.70 m in November and 0.80 m in December. The maximum of significant wave height occurs in north portion of study region. The dominate direction of waves is north-western in coasts of Gilan province.