Trends and extremes of wave fields in the north-eastern part of the Baltic Prope

Abstract

The paper analyses one of the longest contemporarywave measurements in the northern Baltic Sea, performed at Almagrundet1978-2003. This record contains the roughest instrumentally measuredwave conditions (significant wave height = c. 7.8 m) in the northernBaltic Proper until December 2004. The data for the years 1979-95,the period for which the data are the most reliable, show a linearrising trend of 1.8% per annum in the average wave height. Theseasonal variation in wave activity follows the variation inwind speed. The monthly mean significant wave height varies from0.5 m in May-July to 1.3-1.4 m in December-January. No correctionshave been made in the analysis to compensate for missing values,for their uneven distribution, or for ice cover.

Keywords

• Wind waves
• Baltic Sea
• Wave climate
• Wave measurements