succession in simulated wave records by Goda (1970) . However, Goda (1976) 

 could not find a clear relationship between Qp and the extent of group- 

 ing of high waves in field records. 



The value of Qp as a spectral parameter is shown in Figure 8. The 

 two spectra shown have nearly the same significant height and peak period. 

 The spectra also have comparable values of the frequently used spectral- 

 width parameter, e, defined as 



-2 _ 





(5) 



However, Qp for one spectrum is 66 percent greater than for the other, 

 indicating substantial differences in spectral shape. 



Frequency 



Figure 8. Comparison of two measured spectra 

 from the North Atlantic Ocean with 

 Hg = 3.3 meters, Tp = 10.5 seconds, 

 and e = 0.61 (after Hoffman, 1974). 



28 



