An examination of 90th percentile wave heights along the west coast of the United States in connection with atmospheric oscillations in the Pacific Basin

The vast expanse of ocean that lies to the south of the Bering Sea is a genesis for some of the highest waves in the Pacific Ocean. This area of low pressure, known as the Aleutian Low due to its proximity to the Aleutian Islands, is the location where midlatitude storms travel, uninterrupted by landmasses, creating wind speeds of over 40 knots that blow over great distances for consecutive days. It is during this period when wave heights can frequently reach 25 feet or higher sending significant swells into the west coast of the United States. In this study, approximately 30 years of ocean buoy data are analyzed to find significant spatial and temporal signatures that relate to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific North American (PNA) oscillations. The research focuses on 90th percentile wave height data collected from 10 buoy stations along the west coast of the United States and were examined to find correlations with warm and cold ENSO phases as well as PNA variability. Lastly, a visual model based on 700mb geopotential height anomalies from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data were examined to display unique atmospheric conditions that relate to significant swell events propagation along the west coast of the United States.