Estimation of design wave heights based on extreme value statistics for Kakinada coast, Bay of Bengal

Abstract

Statistical analyses for longterm distribution of significant wave heights were performed using Lognormal, Weibull, Gumbel and Fretchet distributions for waves measured off Kakinada from June 1983 to May 1984. Fretchet distribution showed large scattering in the plot resulting in the estimated extreme wave height on much higher side. The extreme wave height estimated based on Lognormal distribution was also relatively higher, while the Weibull distribution gave relatively lower values. Gumbel distribution appears to estimate the extreme wave height reasonably well and gives a realistic value for the study region. The extreme wave estimated based only on the monsoon wave data deviated significantly from the estimate based on 1 y wave data as expected.