Methods and Data Collected
In order to determine the waves that will be
generated heading into Sheboygan Harbor, there are several factors that need to
be considered. The major factor that
creates waves on Lake Michigan is the wind.
As such, I collected wind data for the past 30 years which included both
wind speed and wind direction. The next
important factor to consider is the depth of the water leading up to the
shore. There are two different parts of
this to consider. The major part is the
slope of the bottom leading up to the shore.
I also learned that the surfing is generally thought to be better in the
winter, when the real hard core surfers hit the beach. This got me to thinking about what changes
took place in winter that would change the wave action. The most likely explanation is the changing
seasonal water level so I also collected data regarding this.
|
Date |
Wave Height |
Wave Period |
Wave Direction |
Wind Speed |
Wind Direction |
|
1988010100 |
1 |
4 |
277 |
12 |
285 |
|
1988010103 |
0.9 |
4 |
288 |
10 |
300 |
|
1988010106 |
1 |
4 |
310 |
11 |
300 |
|
1988010109 |
1 |
4 |
320 |
11 |
300 |
|
1988010112 |
1 |
4 |
324 |
11 |
305 |
|
1988010115 |
0.8 |
4 |
331 |
9 |
300 |
|
1988010118 |
0.7 |
4 |
331 |
9 |
300 |
|
1988010121 |
0.8 |
4 |
317 |
10 |
290 |
|
1988010200 |
0.7 |
3 |
281 |
8 |
280 |
|
1988010203 |
0.8 |
3 |
270 |
9 |
270 |
|
1988010206 |
0.7 |
3 |
270 |
8 |
270 |
|
1988010209 |
0.7 |
3 |
256 |
8 |
255 |
|
1988010212 |
0.7 |
3 |
252 |
8 |
255 |
|
1988010215 |
0.9 |
4 |
295 |
10 |
245 |
|
1988010218 |
1.6 |
5 |
313 |
12 |
230 |
|
1988010221 |
1.7 |
5 |
212 |
13 |
230 |
|
1988010300 |
1.3 |
5 |
230 |
10 |
250 |
|
1988010303 |
1 |
4 |
234 |
8 |
255 |
|
1988010306 |
0.7 |
5 |
180 |
6 |
235 |
|
1988010309 |
0.9 |
4 |
194 |
7 |
215 |
|
1988010312 |
1.2 |
4 |
198 |
9 |
220 |
|
1988010315 |
1.5 |
5 |
194 |
11 |
225 |
|
1988010318 |
1.4 |
5 |
198 |
11 |
235 |
|
1988010321 |
1.3 |
5 |
212 |
10 |
240 |
Example of the wind and wave data from a gage
nearby the
Lake Michigan Water
levels over the last two years
Contour map of lake
bottom leading up to Sheboygan Harbor Coast