Why does ocean swell tend to consist of waves of similar sizes?
A)Swell is controlled by water depth.
B)Swell is controlled by wind speed, and all of the waves that comprise swell arise from the same wind cell.
C)Wavelength is similar for all ocean waves.
D)Waves far from their storm source tend to be sorted into groups of similar waves.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Swell waves, which are the result of wind blowing across a large area of the ocean, tend to travel long distances before reaching the coast. During this time, waves of similar sizes tend to reinforce each other and travel together, while smaller or larger waves get dispersed or absorbed by the ocean. This process is known as wave grouping or sorting, and it is especially pronounced in deep water where there are few disturbances to disrupt the wave packets. As a result, waves within a swell tend to have similar wavelengths and similar heights, creating a distinctive and uniform pattern on the ocean surface.

Why Does Ocean Swell Tend to Consist of Waves of Similar