Abstract: The wave periods play an important role in marine engineering design, especially for the relationships of ocean wave periods. In this study, one year measured wave period data had been applied to investigate the relationships of different wave periods, such as the spectral peak period, significant wave period, the zero-crossing period, the maximum wave period, and so on. The results of this study were compared with those from some literatures and some correlative standards. The corresponding formulae of different wave periods were put forward. Consequently, our results provide support for the marine engineering design and the study of the relationship between wave periods in the South China Sea.

Key words: South China Sea, wave period, spectral peak period, significant period