Some statistical aspects of wave-induced drift in sea states

•A simple analytical tool for estimating the Strokes drift for sea states.•The results are achieved by providing bivariate distributions of significant wave height and Strokes drift.•The mean values and standard deviations of surface Strokes drift and volume Strokes transport are given.•Examples of results corresponding to typical field conditions.•Relevant for making assessment of Strokes drift based on e.g. global wave statistics.

The paper provides a simple analytical tool which can be used to give estimates of the mean value and the standard deviation of the Stokes drift for sea states. This is achieved by providing bivariate distributions of significant wave height with surface Stokes drift as well as with volume Stokes transport. These Stokes drift parameters are defined in terms of significant wave height and characteristic wave periods. Also bivariate distributions of spectral peak period and these two Stokes drift parameters are provided. The paper presents statistical aspects of the Stokes drift parameters, such as the conditional expected values and the conditional variances for given significant wave height, as well as examples of results corresponding to typical field conditions. The present analytical results can be used to make assessment of Stokes drift based on e.g. global wave statistics.