NCEP Newsletter

About Sea State Analysis

Manually produced analysis of Sea State are prepared at 12Z for the Atlantic and 00Z for the Pacific. These charts depict the analyzed significant sea state at 1 meter height contour intervals. The analysis uses data primarily from ships and buoys. It may include data from polar orbiting satellites such JASON data which shows sea state values in narrow swaths under the orbital path. In areas of sparse data, model guidance is used to make an estimate of sea state. Guidance primarily used for the analysis comes from NOAA Wave Watch Model III. Additional guidance used may come from the NAVY wave model forecast. Maximum significant wave heights analyzed does not take into account higher individual wave heights. Remember that significant wave height is defined as the average height of the highest 1/3  of wave heights observed. Arrows point toward the primary swell direction. During the winter season, the ice edge is depicted as a bold jagged line.