Long-Term and Seasonal Analysis of Storm-Wave Events in the Gulf of California

Coastal zones are threatened by extreme meteorological phenomena such as storm–wave events. Understanding storm-wave events is essential for sustainable coastal management. This study analyzed the temporal variability (both long-term and seasonal) of the frequency and energy content of storm-wave events in the Gulf of California for the period 1980–2020 using storm-wave data from the fifth-generation climate reanalysis dataset (ERA5). The results indicate that storm events in the Gulf of California are becoming more frequent and energetic. Storm-wave events coming from the north are more frequent but less energetic than those coming from the south. Throughout the year, storm-wave events from both the north and south show seasonal behavior. This paper aims to enhance the understanding of storm-wave events in the Gulf of California and serve as a foundation for future studies, such as coastal impact assessments.