Abstract: With the wave observation off the southeastern coast of Zhaitang Island from 2013 to 2014, the wave characteristics were analyzed. The statistical results show that annual average of significant wave height is 0.60 m, the maximum wave height is 5.30 m, the average period is 3.3 s, the maximum period is 8.3 s and the dominant wave direction is E-SE. The wave height distribution and the joint distribution of wave height and period were also discussed. Based on the basic spectrum structure of JONSWAP, the spectrum applied to this sea area is presented using fitting method. All the work would provide reference for wave research and engineering application in this sea area.

Key words: Zhaitang Island, wave character, wave height distribution, the joint distribution of wave height and period, wave spectrum