It is possible to assign a value to A in equation (3.1) 
so that equation (3.10) will hold. The value of A would not be 
one half of the significant height. If this were done, equation 
(3.1) would still not be a good representation for the actual 
wave record for reasons which will become apparent later. 
In summary, if the actual wave record is represented by a 
purely periodic function with one discrete spectral component, 
there are only two parameters which can be chosen. ‘These two 
parameters do not adequately describe the actual wave record as 
a function of time. 
Many discrete periods 
A second way to analyze the actual wave record would be to 
pick out a well defined wave group (if there is one) in the record 
and assume that that wave group repeated itself every T seconds 
exactly. Here T is the time interval separating either the re- 
lative low wave height areas or the relative maxima from wave 
group to wave group. By a proper choice of the origin of the time 
axis, and by the assumption that the wave group is repeated per- 
iodically, it is then possible to analyze that one wave group by 
a Fourier series. The wave record will then be given by equation 
(3.3). It must repeat itself every T seconds. The discrete 
spectral wave periods which determine those component waves which 
vary sinusoidally are determined by dividing the period of repi- 
tition by the integers. 
Suppose such an analysis were carried out on the records 
shown by some computational method such as the one given by Conrad 
[1946]. The record would be multiplied by cos 27t/z . The area 
= 29) = 
