Articles | Volume 18, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-729-2018
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-729-2018
Research article
 | 
06 Mar 2018
Research article |  | 06 Mar 2018

Catalogue of extreme wave events in Ireland: revised and updated for 14 680 BP to 2017

Laura O'Brien, Emiliano Renzi, John M. Dudley, Colm Clancy, and Frédéric Dias

Abstract. This paper aims to extend and update the survey of extreme wave events in Ireland that was previously carried out by O’Brien et al. (2013). The original catalogue highlighted the frequency of such events dating back as far as the turn of the last ice age and as recent as 2012. Ireland's marine territory extends far beyond its coastline and is one of the largest seabed territories in Europe. It is therefore not surprising that extreme waves have continued to occur regularly since 2012, particularly considering the severity of weather during the winters of 2013–2014 and 2015–2016. In addition, a large number of storm surges have been identified since the publication of the original catalogue. This paper updates the O’Brien et al. (2013) catalogue to include events up to the end of 2017. Storm surges are included as a new category and events are categorised into long waves (tsunamis and storm surges) and short waves (storm and rogue waves). New results prior to 2012 are also included and some of the events previously documented are reclassified. Important questions regarding public safety, services and the influence of climate change are also highlighted. An interactive map has been created to allow the reader to navigate through events: https://drive.google.com/open?id=19cZ59pDHfDnXKYIziYAVWV6AfoE&usp=sharing.

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Short summary
This paper extends and updates the survey of extreme wave events in Ireland that was previously carried out by O'Brien et al. (2013). Events are categorised into storm waves, rogue waves, tsunamis and storm surges. Important questions regarding public safety, services and the influence of climate change are also highlighted. An interactive map that allows the reader to navigate through events can be found here.
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