Alternative Energy Forums

Hi,

can someone tell me how to measure the power / energy of a swell. i.e. take a small bay - how can I go down to the bay and measure the energy that the swell has say 100 metres out (i.e. further out than where the waves are crashing).

Thanks heaps in advance
Guy

Guy,

First you need to know the wave/swell height, the wave period (time from wave/swell crest to wave/swell crest), and the depth of the water. Then you can go to http://www.coastal.udel.edu/faculty/rad/wavetheory.html (Java Site)

That has a wave calculator that will tell you the available wave energy per meter of wavefront.

Good luck,
Joe