Soomere T., Kurkina O.
The properties of extreme wave storms in the Darss Sill area, SW Baltic Sea, are analysed based on waverider data for 1991–2010 and long-term numerical simulations. The long-term significant wave height is HS ~0.7 m and the most frequent wave periods 2–4 s. The largest measured HS is 4.46 m. The typical measured and modelled wave periods differ by up to 2 s. The annual maximum HS has notched behaviour, with an increase for 1958–1990 and since 1993, and a drastic decrease in 1991–1992. The measured annual average and maximum HS have changed insignificantly in 1991–2010 but the threshold for the top 1% of waves has considerably decreased.
