A Wave Sensing Drift Buoy and it´s Homodyne Receiver

Wave slope is telemetered from a drift wave-follower buoy by the changing of the distributive capacitance of the transmitting antenna on the swinging buoy caused by the notion of waves. Sea state can also be reported while the buoy is following the track of water parcels. A special phase-locked homodyne receiver is designed for receiving the "wow" like signal. The output of the VCO presents the instant wave slope. The design and construction of the buoy is given. A test was carried on Cook Strait, Xew Zealand. Signals were received at Kaikoura and Christchurch, 150 and 300 km from the buoy respectively. Good wave slope records were obtained. Discussion is given of the potential use of this method.