Review the information about the four systems, then answer the question below.
Systems |
Wave direction |
Wave period (seconds) |
Wave height (meters) |
Local wind direction |
Local wind speed (kt) |
1 |
Northwest |
14 |
3.50 |
Southwest |
15 |
2 |
West |
04 |
2.00 |
West |
20 |
3 |
Northwest |
08 |
4.50 |
Northwest |
30 |
4 |
Southwest |
08 |
3.00 |
Variable |
05 |
Which are wind waves and which are swells? Select the correct answer.
Systems 1 and 4 have a different wave direction than the local wind and a relatively high period. Since they’re so different from the local wind, they were generated far from the observation zone and have moved via the propagation process.
Systems 2 and 3 have the same direction as the local wind so they are wind waves generated locally.