Spatial Extreme Value Analysis of Nonlinear Simulations of Random Surface Waves

The paper first recalls the Slepian Model Representation and a theorem of V. I. Piterbarg as generic tools for analyzing the spatial characteristic of ocean waves. We then consider numerical simulations of random surface gravity waves carried out in space and time by means of the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation. It is shown that the extreme waves in the simulations are steeper and more asymmetric than predicted by the Gaussian theory. Moreover, the reconstructed wave fields shows extreme crest heights well in excess of what is expected from the Gaussian theory.