Geographical Distribution and Recent Change in the Meteorological Event Causing the Annual Maximum Wave Height and Storm Surge Around Japan

Abstract

The meteorological events that induced the annual maximum wave heights and storm surges were collected from 35 wave observatories and 50 tide observatories in Japan. The geographical distributions of the meteorological events most responsible for the maximum wave height and storm surge were similar everywhere except the southern part of Hokkaido. The proportions of typhoon- and explosive cyclogenesis-induced maximum wave heights and storm surges increased at many observatories when comparing data collected before 1994 and after 1995. The potential contributions of climate change to these increases were subsequently investigated and discussed based on the results of a detailed analysis conducted in 10-year periods.