ABSTRACT
Fetch- or duration-limited wind-wave growth functions are composed of two equations describing the development of wave height and wave period subject to wind forcing. Analyses of the simultaneous wind and wave data from hurricane reconnaissance missions reveal that the wave development inside hurricanes conforms to the same growth functions established with field measurements obtained under steady wind forcing conditions. The hurricane reconnaissance data are used to develop a fetch and duration scaling model for the tropical cyclone wind fields. With the fetch or duration given, the two wind-wave growth equations can be used to derive wave properties from wind input or to derive wind speed from wave input inside tropical cyclones. This development enhances the capability and scope of spaceborne tropical cyclone remote sensing.
