G714 Estimate of wave length at extremely high wind speeds

Wave slope was evaluated by measuring both significant wave height and length in a broad wind speed range. Experiments were conducted in a high-speed wind wave tank. The results show that the significant wave length increases steeply with free-stream wind-speed at low wind speeds ( U_∞ <15 m/s), increases gradually at middle wind speeds (15 ≦ U_∞ < 27 m/s), and increases steeply again at extremely high wind speeds (U_∞>= 27 m/s). The wave slope increases with the free-stream wind-speed in the low wind speed region ( U_∞ <15 m/s), but it reaches a constant value in the high wind speed region (U_∞ ≧ 15 m/s). These results suggest that the trend of wave development in the high wind speed region is different from that in the low wind speed region owing to wave breaking.