Figure A2.5: 20-year average of the significant wave height (H av) around New Zealand, based on a deep-water wave model.
Note: results are only approximate in coastal areas
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Text description of figure
A computer generated map of the seas surrounding New Zealand showing the 20-year average wave climate based on a deep-water wave model. The wave heights are scaled to the significant wave height.
Four major coastal zones can be identified:
(a) South-facing coasts on the South Island, from Fiordland to Catlins, with mean significant wave heights of three to four metres. (b) Western coasts on both main islands, with significant wave heights of two to three metres. (c) Eastern coasts on both islands, with significant wave heights of 1.5 metres to three metres, and (d) North-eastern coasts on the North Island from East Cape to North Cape, with significant wave heights of one to two metres.
