Storms and high waves

North Atlantic is quite well known for its storms, especially in winter. The wave heights measured during such storms can be very high, certainly up to some huricanes. Altimetry can observe different things during such storms:
- significant wave heights
(significant wave height is a variable used in marine meteorology, that matches the mean height of the third of the highest waves. However, a wave over a hundred reaches one and a half this value, and some can even reach twice this. Heights once at the coast are difficult to predict, since they depend on submarine reliefs),
- wind speed
- moreover, atmospheric pressure has an impact on the ocean surface (especially low pressure will weight less on the ocean surface, which will rise).
- and finally, when high tides occur during such storm, "storm surge" can be observed, with the ocean flooding coastal areas.

Wave heights measured by altimetry are in particular used in forecasting models, for marine safety.

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