EXTREMAL ANALYSIS OF HINDCAST AND MEASURED 

 WIND AND WAVE DATA AT KODIAK. ALASKA 



PART I: INTRODUCTION 



Purpose of Study 



1. This study was conducted to provide an analysis of hindcast and 

 measured wave and wind data for Kodiak, Alaska. The purpose of the analysis 

 was to obtain long-term extreme wave conditions for the St. Paul Harbor at 

 Kodiak. This study was accomplished by means of extremal analyses of deep- 

 water hindcast data from the nearest Wave Information Study (WIS) grid point 

 outside Chiniak Bay. Long-term wind measurements were used to validate the 

 results obtained from the analyses of the hindcast data. The local wave cli- 

 mate and attenuation factor for swell crossing the reef into St. Paul Harbor 

 were derived using measured wave data from the area. 



Physical Description of Kodiak and Vicinity 



2. The city of Kodiak is located on the northeastern shore of Kodiak 

 Island, on the western Gulf of Alaska, about 1,250 air miles* northwest of 

 Seattle and 250 miles southwest of Anchorage. Kodiak Island is 3,588 square 

 miles in area and is mostly mountainous terrain rising to over 4,000 ft in 

 places. Its shoreline is characterized by deep glacial fiords separated by 

 rocky peninsulas and many smaller islands. The center of the city lies on 

 the Kodiak Island side of a narrow channel defined by Near Island. The Port 

 of Kodiak 's deep-draft facilities are southwest of the city on the northwest 

 shore of that 50- to 60-ft-deep area of Chiniak Bay known as St. Paul Harbor. 

 St. Paul Harbor is defined by a series of small islands and submerged rocky 

 reefs a few feet deep extending from the offshore side of Near Island 2 miles 

 to the southwest to just beyond Puffin Island. Further to the southwest of 

 St. Paul Harbor is Womens Bay, the site of the US Coast Guard Kodiak Air 



* A table of factors for converting non-SI units of measurement to SI 

 (metric) units is presented on page 3. 



