Compare the irregularity of these results and the lack of 
quantitative values with the numerical analysis which has just 
been presented. The spectrum was quite regular and the results were 
precise in a statistical sense. The accuracy could have been in- 
creased by taking a longer record and the results would be precisely 
defined. 
A record of a given length, with a fixed degree of resolution, 
has a certain inherent statistical inaccuracy, due to the size of 
the sample and the band width of the analysis, which cannot be re- 
duced; and Tukey and Hamming have described this inaccuracy and 
given the precise procedures for stating the results in a statis- 
tical sense. 
The wave analyzers mentioned above have the same inherent errors 
(except possibly aliasing) as the results of the numerical methods 
plus others due to design characteristics. The analyzers can be re- 
designed so as to approximate the numerical method of analysis em- 
ployed above, and, moreover, they can be calibrated against a numer- 
ical analysis in order to check their response. 
The numerical wave record spectrum analysis presented above re- 
quired many months of work and effort. It would be impossible to 
analyze an adequate supply of wave records by the same slow computing 
techniques. One nice thing about the overall problem of torecasting 
ocean waves is that huge quantities of these records can be made avail- 
able and much larger quantities will be becoming available from deep 
water observations. Thus it is important that a speedy and accurate 
means be provided for the quantitative analysis of a large number of 
pia 
