Recently, swell waves inundated coastal areas in central and southern districts of Kerala.
About Swell waves:
A swell is the formation of long wavelength waves on the surface of the seas. These are composed of a series of surface gravity waves.
Formation:
They occur not due to the local winds, but rather due to distant storms like hurricanes or even long periods of fierce gale winds.
During such storms, huge energy transfer takes place from the air into the water, leading to the formation of very high waves.
Features:
Swells have a narrower range of frequencies and directions than locally generated wind waves, because swell waves have dispersed from their generation area, taking on a more defined shape and direction.
These waves can propagate in directions that differ from the direction of the wind, in contrast to a wind sea.
Their wavelengths may rarely exceed more than 150 m. Occasionally, swells which are longer than 700 m occur as a result of the most severe storms.
It occurs without precursors or any kind of local wind activity and as a result.
In India early warning systems like the Swell Surge Forecast System launched by the Indian National Centre for Ocean InformationServices (INCOIS) in 2020 — gives forewaring seven days in advance.
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