Extreme significant wave heights from combined satellite altimeter data

Abstract

Global estimates of extreme significant wave heights Hs are made from altimeter data collected by three Earth orbiting satellites: Geosat, ERS-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon. Data are collapsed into a 2° latitude by 2° longitude rectangular mesh element data base. Practical methods of estimating extreme Hs are described and limitations of their application to altimeter data are highlighted. A well documented procedure for extreme H s analysis, based on the Fisher-Tippett type 1 extreme value distribution, is applied to the combined satellite data base, providing useful information where estimates of extreme Hs are presently unavailable.