Near-shore wave power characterized with a remotely controlled surface vehicle in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, WA

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] Wave power availability in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, WA (USA) was assessed using measurements from a surface wave characterization vehicle. The device was designed to analyze wind and wave power, with each instrument evaluated modularly prior to the experiment to control for error. Data was collected across several transects within the strait and analyzed to determine the cross-sectional wave power of the system. The spatial variability of the energy resource was characterized using data collected from the instrument, while temporal availability was resolved using mean field models. The method was demonstrated to be an effective predictor of localized temporal predictability based on immediate wind conditions, with significant limitations on its use for site selection without continuous monitoring.

University of Washington School of Oceanography