Analysis of wave characteristics in the North Pacific Ocean based on the fusion of multi-source satellite altimetry.

This article focuses on the fusion of multi-source satellite altimeter data to generate high-resolution daily significant wave height (SWH) fields over the North Pacific Ocean (NPO) for improved regional wave characterization. Four fusion methods—inverse distance weighting (IDW), successive correction (SC), weighted mean (WM), and inverse distance weighting-based spatiotemporal (IDW-ST)—were compared, with the IDW-ST method demonstrating superior accuracy and efficiency when validated against buoy measurements. Using the IDW-ST fusion at a spatial resolution of 0.125°, the study analyzed spatial and seasonal wave patterns from 2016 to 2020, revealing larger wave heights in high-latitude and open ocean areas, significant seasonal variability influenced by monsoons and tropical cyclones, and distinct local wave distribution features in representative zones. The findings highlight the importance of high-resolution fusion data for ocean engineering and maritime planning, especially in capturing extreme wave events and regional variability.