The accuracy of the Wave Spectrum 
Method of forecasting itself is a matter of 
controversy between its authors and users 
and those of the several other methods in use 
here and in other countries. With regard to 
the differences between these various methods 
it has been said, ''One would almost question 
whether the different authors were working 
on the same pieuet with the same weather 
conditions". In order to resolve the differ - 
ences in these forecast methods a rigidly con- 
trolled comparison test will have to be con- 
ducted in an area such as the North Atlantic 
where variable sea conditions are available 
and the weather and wave height observations 
are reasonably adequate, 
The brightest hope for more accurate 
wave forecasts is NANWEP (Navy Numerical 
Weather Problems Group), a computer approach 
to atmospheric and oceanographic forecasting 
now evolving at the Navy Post Graduate School 
in Monterey, California. With all its automatic 
data processing equipment operating this system 
can, by making 300 million computations, pro- 
duce a complete pressure pattern forecast in 
40 minutes. From this forecast the NANWEP 
computer can forecast wind direction and 
velocity and from this the wave heights, 
The automation of data processing in 
weather and wave forecasting is a big step 
forward, but the full potential of this step 
will not be realized until data acquisition is 
equally automated. It seems inevitable that 
meteorological and oceanographic observa- 
tions for forecasting purposes will eventually 
be made by stationary and adequately spaced 
instrumented buoys. Towards this end a 
technical and economic feasibility study con- 
ducted in the near future would not, in the 
author's opinion, be premature, 
237 
CONCLUSIONS 
The following conclusions are drawn 
from the foregoing discussion: 
1. Undesirable noise resulting from 
the interaction between acoustical energy, 
electromagnetic energy or the platform 
with the sea surface is sufficiently corre- 
latable with sea conditions that it is possible 
to forecast their levels provided the state 
of the sea is known, 
2, The accuracy with which this can 
be done at present is not sufficient, A better 
correlation is needed between background 
noise and surface reverberation, and the 
state of the sea, 
3, The value of routing, both from 
the standpoint of ship speed and ship damage, 
has been demonstrated such that non-military 
vessels are justified in availing themselves 
of this service to a greater extent. 
4, The benefits to be derived from a 
greater accuracy in wave forecasts are such 
that an intensified effort to improve them is 
clearly warranted. 
