title: Statistical properties of directional ocean waves: the role of the modulational instability in the formation of extreme events.
abstract: We discuss two independent, large scale experiments performed in two wave basins of different dimensions in which the statistics of the surface wave elevation are addressed. Both facilities are equipped with a wave maker capable of generating waves with prescribed frequency and directional properties. The experimental results show that the probability of the formation of large amplitude waves strongly depends on the directional properties of the waves. Sea states characterized by long-crested and steep waves are more likely to be populated by freak waves with respect to those characterized by a large directional spreading.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica Generale, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria, 1-Torino 10125, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onorato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waseda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toffoli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavaleri
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gramstad
authors.forename: P A E M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monbaliu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serio
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Stansberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trulsen