An Application of the Peaks Over Threshold Method to Predict Extremes of Significant Wave Height

The paper describes an application of the Peaks Over Threshold (POT) method to significant wave height data of Figueira da Foz, Portugal. The method is briefly explained and justified. The exponential distribution is shown to be adequate for modeling the peaks of clustered excesses over a threshold of 6 m. Estimates of return values are given. The exponential character of the data is theoretically justified in the Appendix.