Global Wave Height Slowdown Trend during a Recent Global Warming Slowdown

Abstract

It has been reported that global warming results in the increase of globally averaged wave heights. What happened to the global-averaged wave heights during the global warming slowdown period (1999–2013)? Using reanalysis products, together with remote sensing and in situ observational data, it was found that the temporal variation pattern of the globally averaged wave heights was similar to the slowdown trend in the increase in global mean surface temperature during the same period. The analysis of the spatial distribution of trends in wave height variation revealed different rates in global oceans: a downward trend in the northeastern Pacific and southern Indian Ocean, and an upward trend in other regions. The decomposition of waves into swells and wind waves demonstrates that swells dominate global wave height variations, which indicates that local sea surface winds indirectly affect the slowdown in the rate of wave height growth.

The impact of long-term changes in ocean waves and storm surge on coastal shoreline change: A case study of Bass Strait and south-east Australia

“…Both observational data from satellite altimeters (Young, et al, 2011;Young & Ribal, 2019;Timmermans, et al, 2020) and model hindcasts (and reanalyzes) (Cao, et al, 2021;Young & Ribal, 2022) show that over the last 35 years, there has been a small global increase in mean significant wave height. This increase is largest in the Southern Ocean (approximately 3mm/year or an increase of 3% over the last 30 years), which results in impacts across the Indian, South…”

“…and hence long-term historical changes (trends) in waves (Wang & Swail, 2001;Wang, et al, 2009;Hemer, 2010;Young, et al, 2011;Aydoğan & Ayat, 2018;Zheng & Li, 2017;Young & Ribal, 2019;Takbash & Young, 2020;Reguero, et al, 2019;Cao, et al, 2021) (Young & Ribal, 2022;Liu, et al, 2022;Morim, et al, 2022;Erikson, et al, 2022) and storm surges (Paprotny, 2014;Androulidakis, et al, 2015;Cid, et al, 2016;Muis, et al, 2016;Kim, et al, 2017;Feng, et al, 2018;Ghanavati, et al, 2023) have been observed. A number of studies have also projected continued global increases (positive trends) in wave height over the 21 st century, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere, under plausible climate change scenarios (Hemer, et al, 2013;Meucci, et al, 2020;Hochet, et al, 2021;Liu, et al, 2022;Morim, et al, 2023;Liu, et al, 2023).…”

An assessment of whether long-term global changes in waves and storm surges have impacted global coastlines

“…Table 1 shows statistical summary information for these quantities for various regions of the world. The Liu et al dataset indicates that 73% (Table 1) of world coastlines show an increasing trend in C g E , 74% show an These clear indications of globally increasing wave property trends have been the basis for speculation as to the potential impacts on coastlines [28][29][30][43][44][45][46][47] .…”

Corrections of Mesoscale Eddies and Kuroshio Extension Surface Velocities Derived from Satellite Altimeters

“…Satellite altimeters are important marine microwave remote sensors where measured data can be applied to physical oceanography, marine dynamics, marine climates and environments, and sea ice monitoring. For example, the distribution characteristics of regional-and global-scale surface current fields [1], the variation characteristics of mesoscale ocean circulation [2,3] and western boundary currents (such as the Kuroshio and the Gulf Stream) [4,5], the dynamic fluctuation of the sea surface [6], the ocean tidal wave system [7], the propagation of sea surface gravity waves [8], and the role of ocean dynamic phenomena in global climate change and El Niño-Southern Oscillation [9]. Based on the linear relationship between the sea surface pressure gradient force and the sea surface current field, quasi-steady sea surface velocities are derived from altimeters without considering the effect of the sea surface wind stress [10][11][12][13][14][15].…”