Water levels and wave activity during storm on Midway Atoll

Figure 3-14  Photo (top panel) shows the impact of waves on the Midway Islands during a winter storm. Multiple extreme sea levels exceeded the level of Mean High High Water (green line) by about 0.75 m in January 2011 and 0.3 m in February (red). Some storms overlapped with high spring tides (blue). As the storms passed overhead, sea-level pressure (purple) dropped and wave activity increased (black, 1-std of WL) causing a significant wave setup in water levels (red).

BFAL = Black Footed Albatross. 1 m = 0.33 ft.

(Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service. Data from NOAA Tide Station at Midway Island.)