Swell Waves

Current Context : Recently, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), based in Hyderabad, issued advisories regarding swell waves for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, and parts of India’s coastal regions.

ABOUT SWELL WAVES:

• Swell waves are long-wavelength surface waves that travel great distances across the ocean. They form not due to local winds but from distant storms or hurricanes, where energy is transferred from the air into the water. This energy can generate waves that propagate far from the storm center.
• Formation: Generated by energy transfer from storms like hurricanes or prolonged gale-force winds. The energy moves from air to water, creating waves that travel thousands of kilometers.

Features:

• Organized, consistent heights and periods.
• Can move in different directions than local wind waves.
• Swell wavelengths can exceed 150 meters and, in rare cases, reach 700 meters.
• INCOIS Role: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) provides early warnings (up to 7 days) for swell surges, helping prepare coastal areas for potential flooding​