Long Waves at Timaru 

Data kindly supplied by PrimePort Timaru

Figure 1. Long Waves at Timaru showing: A. long wave record; B. significant (red) and maximum (blue) wave heights, and high tide times (green diamonds); C. period of significant waves; and D. distribution of significant wave height with time and period.

Canterbury Bight Seiche

A feature of the sea levels at Timaru is a ubiquitous seiche with periods of c. 2.5 h. The seiche is a classical chaotic signal with variable amplitude and phase, but constant period. It is caused by the nonlinear interaction of the tide and storm surge with each other and the bathymetry and shoreline.

Figure 2. Canterbury Bight seiche at Timaru showing: A. long wave record; B. significant (red) and maximum (blue) wave heights, and high tide times (green diamonds); C. period of significant waves; and D. distribution of significant wave height with time and period.

How were these calculated?
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