National Physical Laboratory 
Ministry of Technology 
Teddington, Middlesex 
England 
Publication 
Ocean Wave Statistics 
Hogben, N., and Lumb, F. E. 
Publication Date: 1967 
Location: Major shipping routes of the world oceans 
including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, China Sea, 
and Indian Ocean 
Period of Coverage: 1953-1961 
Contents: A statistical survey of wave characteristics estimated visually 
from voluntary observing ships sailing along the shipping routes of the world. 
Its purpose was to provide systematic information about environmental condi- 
tions for use in research on the seagoing qualities of ships. A total of 
2,500 voluntary ships generated almost 2 million sets of observations 
consisting of wave direction, period, height of sea, and swell. A total of 
1-3/4 million sets of observations made during this 8-year period have been 
processed at the time of publication and 1 million of these were used to 
comprise the tables. There are three basic types of tables: 
Group I. All Seasons - All directions: This set of tables gives the 
data for each area taken over the whole year and over all wave directions. 
The tables therefore summarize the data of each area. 
Group II. All Seasons - With Directional Breakdown: This set of tables 
gives the data for each area taken over the whole year but with directional 
breakdown. 
Group III. Seasonal and Directional Breakdown: This set of tables gives 
the data for each area according to the season of the year and with direc- 
tional breakdown. 
The boundaries for the 50 areas are based on a Marsden Square Chart. 
Available From: H. M. Stationary Office 
London, England 
Iv-42 
