| Term |
Description |
| Water depth |
Distance between the seabed and the still-water level. |
| Water level |
Elevation of still-water level relative to some datum. |
| Wave caustic |
Point or line along which wave energy is focused by refraction. |
| Wave climate |
The seasonable and annual distribution of wave height, period and direction. |
| Wave direction |
Mean direction of wave energy propagation relative to true north. |
| Wave directional spectrum |
Distribution of wave energy as a function of wave frequency and direction. |
| Wave frequency |
The inverse of wave period. |
| Wave frequency spectrum |
Distribution of wave energy as a function of frequency. |
| Wave Height |
The vertical distance between a wave crest and the next trough. |
| Wave Length |
The distance between consecutive wave crests or wave troughs. |
| Wave Period |
The time taken for consecutive wave crests or wave troughs to pass a given point. |
| Wave Power |
The rate at which wave energy is transmitted in the direction of wave propagation. Normally expressed in kilowatts per metre of wave crest length. |
| Wave rose |
Diagram showing the long-term distribution of wave height and direction. |
| Wave Runup |
The vertical distance above mean water level reached by the uprush of water from waves across a beach or up a structure. |
| Wave Setup |
The increase in water level within the surf zone above mean still water level caused by the breaking action of waves. |
| Wave Train |
A series of waves originating from the same fetch with similar wave characteristics. |
| Wave transformation |
Change in wave energy due to the action of physical processes. |
| Wave-cut platform |
A near horizontal layer of solid rock stretching seaward from the toe of a beach. |
| Waverider Buoy |
A floating device used to measure water level variations caused by ocean waves. |
| WFD |
Water Framework Directive |
| Wind rose |
Diagram showing the long-term distribution of wind speed and direction. |
| Wind Setup |
The increase in mean sea level caused by the "piling up" of water on the coastline by wind. |
| Wind stress |
Tangential wind force on water surface. |
| Wind Waves |
The waves initially formed by the action of wind blowing over the sea surface. |
