It’s common for “wedge” waves that peak and close out quickly to get confused with proper square waves. Savvy surfers and ocean photographers have to anticipate the ideal conditions to catch this phenomenon. Square waves may materialize and then disappear again once wind and current patterns shift. France – The Northern coast of France can sometimes have two swells – from the North Sea, and the Atlantic.Caribbean – Smaller square chop created by crosswinds and tides.Cape Town – Rare standing square waves emerge offshore with massive force.UK – The famous Severn Bore tidal wave often spawns transient square shapes.Japan – Consistent wind and current patterns off some Japanese coasts generate square wave zones.Australia – Sections of the Great Barrier Reef produce squarish waves.Hawaii – Spotty offshore squares form due to complex interacting currents.California – Places like Newport Beach’s Wedge see square waves when swells hit the right way.Square waves pop up in scattered locations around the globe, usually near strong currents: Square waves are best observed from the safety of land when possible! Where Are Square Waves or a Cross Sea Found? While an experienced open water swimmer may fair okay in brief square wave conditions, they remain an unpredictable and potentially hazardous environment for most bathers. Exhaustion – The pounding energy and disorienting nature of square waves can quickly sap a swimmer’s energy and confidence.This makes near-shore swimming extremely dangerous. Shorebreak – Squares smash directly into the shore with little dissipation.Turbulence – Squares indicate chaotic currents that can pull swimmers off course.Drag – The flat wall of the square wave produces a dragging effect perpendicular to swimming direction. Disorientation – Visibility through the straight ledge of water is obscured.Powerful impacts – Square wave chop hits bathers with dynamic, smacking blows from above.What Happens If You Swim in Square Waves in the Ocean?īraving square waves while swimming introduces a few specific risks and sensations: As with any swell, it pays to respect the ocean’s forces. While square waves don’t automatically spell disaster, exercising caution and scanning for hazards is advisable when they appear. Unpredictability – The odd behavior of square waves can catch swimmers and surfers off guard.Shorebreak – Their shape drives straight into the shore with concentrated energy.Currents – Squares often indicate turbulent currents that create hidden dangers.Visibility – It can be harder for swimmers to keep sight of incoming square waves in choppy conditions.Power – The ‘peak’ of a square wave can pack a serious punch if it drives directly into objects or swimmers.Square waves are not necessarily more hazardous than other types of waves – but they do present some unique risks: While visually striking, true square waves are fairly rare. This gives the approaching wave a squared, box-like shape instead of a typical peak or triangle profile. In ideal conditions, the wave crest flattens and extends straight out along the surface. This causes the crest to become more perpendicular to the direction of travel. As these regular swells encounter currents or winds, the leading edge of the wave moves faster than the trailing edge. Square waves originate like any other wind-driven weather system – storms produce waves that travel across the ocean in groups of similar periods and wavelengths. The uniqueness of these ocean conditions gives square waves their uncommon, geometric appearance. The most consistent square waves form where persistent swells collide with incoming swells at an opposing angle. Refraction can make swells temporarily square before crashing. Refraction – Waves change direction when entering shallower water.
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