Sea Swell

Swell (wave)

A swell, also sometimes referred to as ground swell, in the context of an ocean, sea or lake, is a series of mechanical waves that propagate along the interface between water and air under the predominating influence of gravity, and thus are often referred to as surface gravity waves. These surface gravity waves have their origin as wind waves, but are the consequence of dispersion of wind waves from distant weather systems, where wind blows for a duration of time over a fetch of water, and these waves move out from the source area at speeds that are a function of wave period and length. More generally, a swell consists of wind-generated waves that are not greatly affected by the local wind at that time. Swell waves often have a relatively long wavelength, as short wavelength waves carry less energy and dissipate faster, but this varies due to the size, strength, and duration of the weather system responsible for the swell and the size of the water body, and varies from event to event, and from the same event, over time. Occasionally, swells that are longer than 700 m occur as a result of the most severe storms.

Sea

A sea is a very large body of salty water. The term has two distinct meanings. The first is the interconnected body of seawater that spans most of Earth, known as the sea or the ocean. The second is a named body of water: usually either a marginal sea, or a large, nearly landlocked body of water.

sea

Symbol

1. ISO 639-3 language code for Semai.

Noun

1. A large body of salt water.
2. The ocean; the continuous body of salt water covering a majority of the Earth's surface.

swell

Verb

1. To become larger, fuller, or rounder, or expand in size or shape, usually as a result of pressure from within.
2. To cause to become bigger.

Noun

1. The act of swelling; increase in size.
2. A bulge or protuberance.