Sea State Estimation Using Simultaneous Data from Multiple Observation Platforms

Safe and environmentally friendly operation of ships and ocean structures is key, independent on the actual marine context; for instance, navigation in rough weather and severe seas, inspection and maintenance of offshore windfarms (see Fig. 1), and drill operations for oil and gas exploration. The most important (compromising) factor in this regard is the wave system experienced during the operation. It is therefore essential to possess knowledge about the on site wave system, equivalently the sea state. Typical means for sea state estimation (SSE) include classical wave buoys, remote sensing by aircraft and satellite, marine wave radar measurements, and ship-as-a-wave-buoy; all of which are usually applied on an individual basis and, herein, referred to as observation platforms. This paper, however, introduces the idea to consider the individual means as complementary and, consequently, can be used all together in a single network of wave recorders. The motivation is to allow for improved SSE on both a localon-site position and on a more global geographic scale, enabling also forecasting of a future sea state to be expected ahead of time at any given geographical site. The functionality and realisation of such a heterogeneous network of wave recorders have not yet been investigated in practice, and this paper serves to present the conceptual idea behind, and point out directions of necessary studies. It is noteworthy that a similar but more extensive study1) exists.