The influence of bandwidth on the distribution of heights of sea waves

In a recent paper, Longuet-Higgins [1980], using theoretical arguments, estimated a relation between the mean Square wave amplitude and variance of the signal for a wave field composed of waves of different frequencies. Using data collected in 90 m of water from the Washington continental shelf, we confirm the trend for the influence of bandwidth on the ratio, ā2/2m0, which was predicted by Longuet-Higgins. The mean square wave amplitude is ā2, and m0 is the variance of the wave record.