Analysis of Wind Velocity Signals for Estimating the Wave Power Density of Ireland's Coastal Resource

The aim of this paper is to report on a possible correlation between the Levy index for the wind velocity and the mean Energy Density of sea surface waves in the same location. The result is based on data obtained from six buoys located around the coast of Ireland and maintained by the Marine Institute of Ireland. These buoys provide signals on the wind velocity, wave height and wave period as well as other data on an hourly interval. Using this data, we consider the relationship between a stochastic model for the time variations in wave height that, in turn, is based on a non-Gaussian model for the wind force characterized by the Levy index. Although the results presented in this paper can not be said to be statistically significant due to the limited amount of data that is available (i.e. the Marne Institute of Ireland only maintains six buoys around the coast of Ireland) they indicate the possibility of developing a method of accurately estimating the energy and power densities of sea waves from knowledge of the wind velocity alone. This is a result, that, if confirmed, could be of significant value to the wave energy industry.