NCEP Newsletter

About 48 Hr Peak Wave Period & Direction/Ice Accretion Forecast

Automatically generated graphic which is created twice a day from the 00Z and 12Z computer model runs. The forecast relies on guidance from the NOAA WaveWATCH III model. The peak period is the period (in seconds) of the dominant wave system derived from the wave energy spectrum. This can either be the locally generated `wind sea' (in cases with strong local winds) or swell that is generated elsewhere. Note that the peak period values are discontinuous. These discontinuities can represent locations where the energy associated with one wave system becomes dominant over another or may be the leading edge of a swell system or swell front. In reality many wave systems overlap at most locations and times. Arrows on the chart are the prevailing direction of propagation of the dominant wave system.