Analysis of inter-annual variability of altimeter measured global wave climate

The presence of a significant long term increasing trend in the wave climate of the North-Eastern Atlantic has been widely reported, resulting from analyses of surface, model and satellite wave data. However, to date, no similar global investigations have been attempted. To enable such a study, the authors have developed a calibrated, global gridded altimeter wave height data base, and have used it in an investigation of large scale inter-annual variability over all ocean regions. Analysis reveals that, whilst the largest magnitude long term trend occurs in North-East Atlantic, there is also significant inter-annual variability in other ocean regions. Evidence of correlation between different ocean regions has also been found. The possible implications of these results, with respect to both oceanographic and atmospheric climate, are investigated by looking for connections with observed variability in surface wind fields and climate indices.