Influence of Natural Climate Variability on the Extreme Ocean Surface Wave Heights Over the Indian Ocean

Abstract Extreme ocean waves are part of the climate system but responsible for significant impacts on coastal and offshore environments, structures, and populations. In the Indian Ocean (IO), the wind and wave climate can be significantly influenced by natural climate variability, such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and Southern Annular Mode (SAM), yet our understanding on their regional influence is limited, particularly for seasonal extremes. Here, seasonal extreme significant wave heights (SWHs) and winds in the IO are examined over the period 1957–2010 utilizing ERA‐20C reanalysis data and the nonstationary generalized extreme value distribution to understand climatic extremes, by considering climate indices as covariates. ENSO influence on extreme SWHs include increases in the Bay of Bengal, southwest tropical IO (TIO), southern IO (SIO; a broad extension south of Australia), and South China and Philippine (SCP) Seas, and decreases in the Arabian Sea in boreal summer during El Niño. Extreme SWH responses to the IOD include increases in the eastern TIO, southwest TIO, and SIO in boreal autumn during its positive phase. Lastly, Southern Annular Mode not only significantly affects the SIO year round but has a weak influence in the northern and tropical IO. Composite analysis of ENSO and IOD events further highlight in phase combinations display less significant influence than out of phase combinations during summer, but not autumn. Mean and extreme wind responses are consistent with SWH responses to natural climate variability, and climate mode teleconnection patterns help explain the seasonal variations.