title: Spatial and temporal analysis of extreme sea level and storm surge events around the coastline of the UK.
abstract: In this paper we analyse the spatial footprint and temporal clustering of extreme sea level and skew surge events around the UK coast over the last 100 years (1915-2014). The vast majority of the extreme sea level events are generated by moderate, rather than extreme skew surges, combined with spring astronomical high tides. We distinguish four broad categories of spatial footprints of events and the distinct storm tracks that generated them. There have been rare events when extreme levels have occurred along two unconnected coastal regions during the same storm. The events that occur in closest succession (<4 days) typically impact different stretches of coastline. The spring/neap tidal cycle prevents successive extreme sea level events from happening within 4-8 days. Finally, the 2013/14 season was highly unusual in the context of the last 100 years from an extreme sea level perspective.
authors.affiliation: Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.
authors.forename: Ivan D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Haigh
authors.affiliation: Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.|Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wadey
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.|Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering and Sustainable Coastal Systems Cluster, University of Central Florida, 12800 Pegasus Drive, Suite 211, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.affiliation: Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.
authors.forename: Ozgun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozsoy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.affiliation: National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horsburgh
authors.affiliation: Flood Management Group, HR Wallingford, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BA, UK.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gouldby