University of Michigan 
Department of Meteorology and Oceanography 
College of Engineering 
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 
(313) 764-7433 
Publication 
Wave Statistics for Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior 
HElekersoRS (Cy wands GoweneAcs Ln. 
Publication Date: August 1970 
Location: Lake Michigan 
Point Betsie, Mich. 44.67 N 86.33 W 
Muskegon, Mich. esis IN 86.33 W 
Burns Harbor, Ind. 41.67 N 87.17 W 
Lake Huron 
Port Huron, Mich. AS) NU IN 82.33 W 
Harbor Beach, Mich. 44.17 N 82.67 W 
Douglas Point, Ont. 44.33 N 81.67 W 
Alpena, Mich. 45.00 N 83.17 W 
Cockburn Island, Ont. 45.83 N Sou lsaw 
Lake Superior 
Duluth, Minn. 46.83 N 91.67 W 
Gland Marias, Minn. 47.67 N 90.33 W 
Eagle Harbor, Mich. 47.50 N 88.17 W 
Marquette, Mich. 46.67 N 87.33 W 
Whitefish Point, Mich. 46.83 N 85.00 W 
Slate Island, Ont. 48.67 N 86.83 W 
Period of Coverage: 1965-67 
Contents: A wave hindcast study for Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior was 
conducted for the years 1965, 1966, and 1967. The purpose of this study was 
to help in the understanding of shoreline erosion, the design of maritime 
structures, and the design of Great Lakes ships. 
The study produced statistics of significant wave height and period for 
11 locations on Lakes Huron and Superior for which such data were not avail- 
able before. Wave statistics were also produced for three locations on Lake 
Michigan so that comparisons could be made with an earlier study. 
The wind field used to determine the wave parameters was derived from the 
geostrophic wind based on a pressure analysis of synoptic weather reports 
taken every 6 hr. The Svendrup-Munk method of wave hindcasting as revised by 
Bretschneider (the SMB method) was used to hindcast the wave parameters. 
Iv-40 
