The application of wavelet transform to wave breaking

Wavelet transform is a particularly useful tool to characterize transient phenomena such as wave breaking. In this paper, we apply wavelet transform to the detection and quantification of the breaking waves. We use a new method that uses the local properties of wavelet transform to detect and quantify the breaking waves and give some new breaking criteria. By comparing this method with the classic method, we find that wavelet transform is very effective in the detection of breaking waves. With wavelet transform, a set of measured wind wave data is investigated. The results have revealed some previously unknown phenomena about wave breaking. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (49476254, 49606070) & the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program)