TY - JOUR
T1 - On estimating extreme wave heights using combined Geosat, Topex/Poseidon and ERS-1 altimeter data
AU - Alves, Jose Henrique G.M.
AU - Young, Ian R.
PY - 2003/8/1
Y1 - 2003/8/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2142806926&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apor.2004.01.002
DO - 10.1016/j.apor.2004.01.002
M3 - Article
SN - 0141-1187
VL - 25
SP - 167
EP - 186
JO - Applied Ocean Research
JF - Applied Ocean Research
IS - 4
ER -