Wave characteristics around Sittwe Port, Myanmar

Abstract

This paper presents wave characteristics estimated around Sittwe port, which is located on the Paton Peninsula, Myanmar. Wind data recorded from January 1998 to December 2001 at Sittwe port was used for estimation of wave parameters. Offshore wave characteristics were estimated using the DOLPHIN Model. Thereafter, nearshore wave characteristics were estimated from the offshore waves using refraction-diffraction model. As there is a considerable fetch of around 5 km, for winds blowing from 20o to 180o, the waves will be locally generated apart from the refracted / diffracted waves. The locally generated waves were estimated using SPM84 method (USACE, 1984). Design wave height based on two-parameter Weibull distribution at 10 m water depth was estimated as 4.5 m for 1 in 100 year return period. Two cyclones passed near study region were collected for estimation of wind and waves. Estimation of cyclonic wave heights was carried out using a parametric hurricane wave prediction model.