ABSTRACT 



The principal objective of this study is to determine which of 

 the characteristics of pressure on the ocean bottom could be 

 predicted if the sea surface wave spectrum is known. In 

 particular, the distribution of negative pressure amplitudes, 

 the distribution of pressure periods, and the distribution of 

 half-periods for discrete negative amplitudes are investigated. 

 An analysis is made of surface wave records to obtain the 

 inherent power at various frequencies. The resulting surface 

 power spectrum is attenuated to the bottom using classical 

 hydrodynamic methods. The computed power at the bottom 

 compared closely with the total power determined from a 

 simultaneous bottom pressure record. Given total power, 

 the distribution of pressure amplitudes can be determined 

 based on a Rayleigh distribution. The distribution of pressure 

 periods cannot be obtained analytically, but empirical methods 

 give agreeable results. A method of determining the dis- 

 tribution of half-periods for discrete negative pressure 

 amplitudes is obtained for the case when this amplitude is 

 zero. Comparison between predicted and observed pressure 

 characteristics is presented. 



