(6) The extent of grouping in each time series and the modulation 

 period are related to certain features of the spectrum. Evidence is 

 presented that the MRS analysis represents grouped wave records by 

 identifying two or more high-amplitude constituents separated by a 

 frequency which approximates the modulation period. Thus, grouping 

 characteristics are related to the detailed spectrum but may not be 

 related to a spectrum computed by more conventional techniques. 



This study is based on a small sample of field data, so a sweeping gen- 

 eralization of the results is not appropriate. However, evidence supporting 

 the six hypotheses leads to the conclusion that some commonly held conceptions 

 of ocean waves, including the notion of a random wave field represented by a 

 continuous random-phase spectrum, are open to serious question. 



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