Waves

Wave models are solved to predict wave height, wave direction and wave period. Waves are usually generated by winds, typically from major weather systems in the region. There are two classes of waves: wind waves and swells:

• wind waves are generated in regions of high winds and typically have low wave periods.
• swells are essentially wind waves that form into nice rolling waves away from the windy region where they are generated.

There can be multiple swells from different weather systems at any one point. These are categorised based on decreasing wave height as:

• primary swell or swell 1
• secondary swell or swell 2

Wave Data Sources in Flowx

Currently, only one wave data source is available in Flowx:

• GFS Waves, which obviously wave models predicted from the GFS weather model.

We plan to add more wave models in the future.

Wave Data in Flowx

Significant Waves

The significant wave is the larger wave between wind waves and the primary swell. This gives a good representation of the maximum wave height at a point.

  Significant wave height (m or ft)

  Significant wave direction (degrees)

  Significant wave period (seconds)

Wind Waves

  Wind wave height (m or ft)

  Wind wave direction (degrees)

  Wind wave period (seconds)

Primary Swell

  Primary swell height (m or ft)

  Primary swell direction (degrees)

  Primary swell period (seconds)

Secondary Swell

  Secondary swell height (m or ft)

  Secondary swell direction (degrees)

  Secondary swell period (seconds)

Wave Menus in Flowx

Flowx offers two wave menus:

• a Basic Wave menu - which includes Significant Wave height, direction and period.
• a Full Wave menu - which includes significant, primary, secondary and wind wave height, direction and period.