wind wave
Sign in to savesurface waves that occur on the free surface of bodies of water
AI overview
Wind waves are ripples and undulations that form on the surface of water bodies when wind blows across them. They matter because they affect navigation, coastal erosion, marine activities, and the overall behavior of oceans and lakes.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
A man standing next to large ocean waves at Porto Covo, Portugal Video of large waves from Hurricane Marie along the coast of Newport Beach, California
In fluid dynamics, a wind wave, or wind-generated water wave, is a surface wave that occurs on the free surface of bodies of water as a result of the wind blowing over the water's surface. The contact distance in the direction of the wind is known as the fetch. Waves in the oceans can travel thousands of kilometers before reaching land. Wind waves on Earth range in size from small ripples to waves over 30 m (100 ft) high, being limited by wind speed, duration, fetch, and water depth.