Grigorieva V., Gulev S.
For the first time the extreme waves in the ocean are studied using the most complete database of visual wave observations, assimilated in the ICOADS (International Comprehensive Ocean Atmosphere Data Set) archive. A new methodology for the data quality control and criteria for the classification of extreme wind waves and swell was established. All visual observations reporting the wind wave height of 15 meters or more likely indicate either actual severe storms (about 20% of the total number of cases), or observational artifacts. A very small number of reported extreme swells can be potentially attributed to the freak waves.
