The Accelerations of a Wave Measurement Buoy Impacted by Breaking Waves in the Surf Zone

A spherical wave measurement buoy capable of detecting breaking waves has been designed and built. The is 16 inches in diameter houses a 9 degree freedom inertial unit (IMU). orientation acceleration the continuously logged at frequencies up to 200 Hz providing high fidelity description motion as it impacted by waves. was deployed several times throughout winter 2013–2014. Both moored free-drifting data were acquired near-shore shoaling off coast Newport, OR. Almost varying type intensity measured over course multiple deployments. characteristic signature spilling plunging breakers identified IMU data.