On estimating extreme wave heights using combined Geosat, Topex/Poseidon and ERS-1 altimeter data

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/480

Title: On estimating extreme wave heights using combined Geosat, Topex/Poseidon and ERS-1 altimeter data
Author(s): Alves, Jose Henrique G. M.; Young, Ian R.
Abstract: The estimation of extreme significant wave heights Hs using altimeter observations is investigated. Data from the following three satellite missions are used: Geosat, ERS-1 and Topex/Poseidon. Practical methods of estimating extreme Hs are described and limitations of their application to altimeter data are highlighted. Extreme Hs are estimated using the three-parameter Weibull distribution, with maxima selected via the peaks over threshold method, and the Fisher-Tippet type I distribution, using data selected via the initial distribution method. Altimeter estimates are compared to extreme Hs calculated from deep water buoy data. A comparative analysis of global estimates of satellite-derived extreme Hs based on standard statistics investigates time-space undersampling and how it affects the reliability of long-term extreme wave estimates made using satellite altimeter data.
Publication type: Journal article
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology
Source: Applied Ocean Research, Vol. 25, no. 4 (Aug 2003), pp. 167-186
Publication year: 2003
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 0141-1187
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2004.01.002
Peer reviewed