Decadal wave power variability in the North-East Atlantic and North Sea

Estimation of the long‐term behavior of wave climate is crucial for harnessing wave energy in a cost‐effective way. Previous studies have linked wave heights to the north‐south atmospheric pressure anomalies in the North Atlantic, suggesting that the wave climate fluctuates as a response to changes in zonal circulation in the atmosphere. We identify changes in wave power in the North‐East Atlantic that are strongly correlated to the dominant pressure anomalies, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and other modes. We present a reconstructed wave power climate for 1665–2005, using a combination of known and proxy indices for the NAO and other modes. Our reconstruction shows high interannual and multidecadal variability, which makes wave energy prediction challenging. This variability should be considered in any long‐term reliability analysis for wave energy devices and in power scheme economics. Key Points Annual mean wave power is very variable, particularly in the North Atlantic Good correlation between wave power and climate indices (NAO) Reconstructed wave climate since 1665 shows high variability over all timescales