End-to-end testing of NOAA data buoy office directional wave measurement systems

To facilitate the system testing of Directional Wave Data Analyzer (DWDA) systems, exact equations for the buoy motion and orientation sensor output voltages are derived for a discus buoy hull subjected to directional monochromatic waves. These equations include all the response amplitude and phase operators due to the hull and the electronics. Electronic equipment for precise simulation of the signals described by these exact equations is not available at this time. At present, a simplified simulator is used to produce approximate voltages. The approximations are made by neglecting the effect of the hull and electronic response amplitude and phase operators, and neglecting the effect of the hull tilt or pitch and roll motion on magnetometer outputs. The directional wave data reported by the DWDA system using the simulated inputs are compared to the simulated sea condition. The results are found to be satisfactory, and adequate to validate the operation of the DWDA system.