Extreme Wave Events at the Rena
eCoast was commissioned to examine the likelihood of extreme wave events occurring at the site of the wreck of the RV Rena.
eCoast was commissioned to examine the likelihood of extreme wave events occurring at the site of the wreck of the RV Rena. This was achieved using a multi-staged approach. Firstly, a record of long term offshore wave data was analysed to determine extreme wave heights and associated periods for specific return intervals. The offshore wave record was used to drive a wave model of the Bay of Plenty (BoP), which was calibrated against measured data from a wave buoy within the Bay. The model wave then used to transform extreme offshore wave conditions to the site of the wreck. Wave characteristics at this location were then used to determine the strength of wave-driven currents (maximum orbital velocities) at the location of the wreck.
