A long-term program to monitor the coastal environments of the Taipei Harbour was launched by the Port Authority of Keelung Harbor (PAKH) a few years ago. A current meter (type S4ADW) from the InterOcean Company USA, is mounted on an observing pile to record the wave field condition just outside the breakwater. To monitor the nearby coastal area, a navigation radar atop of the administrative building of the Harbour is used. It is interesting to compare the results from these two distinctively different measuring methods. Estimates of the significant wave heights from radar image sequences compared favorably with on site measurements. Comparisons of both measured and estimated maximum wave heights, on the other hand, have shown that results based upon radar images are lower than those actually measured. It is shown here in this paper that estimates based on the empirical relationship of Hmax=1.44 x max(Hs) lead to slightly underestimate the actual maximum wave height. A new relationship between these two wave heights is proposed for further use for the coastal area of Taipei Harbour.
Of all the factors influencing coastal environment, winds and waves are probably the most dominant ones. Since these factors are due to Mother Nature, little can be done to change them. On the other hand, man-made constructions can change the local conditions drastically, and thus induce severe changes of the environment. Since, however, coastal and/or ocean constructions are vital for a country's development, the best that can be done is try to minimize the possible damage(s). The Taipei Harbour is located in the northern Taiwan. It is a new harbour that is still under construction. The Port Authority of Keelung Harbor (PAKH) is responsible for all the planning and constructing works involved.
