Basic Marine Weather
39
Height: Significant Wave height
Average of the highest 1/3 waves
 Common convention for describing sea state in buoy reports and forecasts
 Coincides with the height observer will “see”
 For a given significant wave height, larger waves are possible
 H1/10 = 1.3*H1/3
 H1/100 = 1.7*H1/3
 Hmax = 2.0*H1/3
When talking about wave height, you can’t describe every single wave.  Instead, statistics are used.  You can talk about the significant wave height of all waves, or just waves, or just swells. In fact, whenever a number is give for a wave height, it is likely a significant wave height.