Ocean Wind Speeds and Wave Heights Are Changing, Say Researchers

According to a new research article published in Science, ocean winds are blowing harder these days and that has led to bigger waves, especially in the Southern Ocean.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne analyzed an extensive database obtained from 31 satellite missions comprising three types of instruments—altimeters, radiometers, and scatterometers—over the period from 1985 to 2018 to determine if there are any trends in oceanic wind speed and wave height. They found small increases in both quantities, with the strongest increases in extreme conditions and in the Southern Ocean. These findings are important for understanding air-sea exchange of energy and carbon dioxide and for projecting sea levels during storms.

To read the full paper, click here.