ocean swells
Long rolling waves
Ocean swells are long, rolling waves that travel across open water, distinct from the choppy, wind-driven waves near shore.
Swells form when distant storms transfer energy to the sea surface; they can travel thousands of miles before reaching coastlines.
Surfers track swells to predict wave conditions: A big swell is coming in from the south.
- troughOpen container for animal feed
- rogue wavesUnpredictable giant ocean swells
- crestHighest point or tuft
- groundswellGrowing public sentiment
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
swell · fetch · period · wavelength · dispersion · nautical mile · roll · sea legs · deep · deep blue · wind shear · propagation · wave · foam · salt spray · storm surge · height · wave interference
- waveswave crest, shock wave, wave front, blast wave, seismic wave
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
- coastal featuresshore, coast, beach, bay, cliff
wave formation and behavior
ocean swellsbreaking surf
breakers · crashing waves · whitecaps · choppy seas · shore break