Characteristics of wind waves in the near shore area of Nha Trang bay

Abstract

Shore Protection Manual (SPM) method is used for calculating wind waves in shallow waters of Nha Trang bay for the period of 29 years. The study results indicate that the maximum wave height occurs at four directions: northeast, east-northeast, east and southeast. In northeast monsoon, wave direction occurs in north (17.1%) and northeast (14.4%), while in southwest monsoon wave direction occurs mainly in southeast (15.7%) and eastsoutheast (7.4%). In transitional monsoon from northeast to southwest, wave direction occurs in the northeast (11.9%) and southeast (10.6%). This is similar in transitional monsoon from southwest to northeast. From wind data, we can identify that the maximum wave height occurs in the period of 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, 50 years and 100 years at study area. Noticeable in 100 years period, wave height is highest (6 m) in northeast direction.