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Updated: Jan 25, 2026
08:54
Measurements of Waves in a Wind-wave Tank Under Steady and Time-varying Wind Forcing
Published on: February 13, 2018
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Multiplatform evaluation of global trends in wind speed and wave height
Ian R Young1, Agustinus Ribal2,3
1Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ian.young@unimelb.edu.au.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 27, 2019
Summary
Global satellite data reveal increasing oceanic wind speeds and wave heights from 1985 to 2018, particularly in extreme conditions and the Southern Ocean. These findings highlight significant climate trends over 33 years.
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Climate Science
- Satellite Remote Sensing
Background:
- Understanding long-term oceanic conditions is crucial for climate change research.
- Satellite data provide a unique global perspective on ocean dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze 33-year trends (1985-2018) in global oceanic wind speed and significant wave height.
- To identify regional variations and extreme condition changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a comprehensive database from 31 satellite missions.
- Employed data from altimeters, radiometers, and scatterometers.
- Conducted sensitivity analyses to ensure trend robustness.
Main Results:
- Observed small increases in mean wind speed and significant wave height.
- Detected larger increases in extreme conditions (90th percentiles).
- Identified the Southern Ocean as a region with the most significant increases.
Conclusions:
- Global oceanic wind speed and wave height are increasing, with extremes showing greater amplification.
- Satellite data confirm robust and reliable trends across multiple instrument types.
- Findings underscore the dynamic nature of ocean climate over recent decades.
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