http://www.surfline.com Surfline Forecaster Blog Copyright 2008 Surfline/Wavetrak Inc en-us http://www.surfline.com/globalnav/images/surfline_header_logo.gif http://www.surfline.com/ http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D15395 Why is it that a southern hemi swell of 2-4 ft. at say 15 seconds provides much bigger surf in So Cal. ,than say the same size and period of a northern hemi swell? And I don't mean a swell with a super high latitude direction , I mean like a 200 to 210 south and a 290 north Is it because we still face straighter into the south window and the swell has to wrap less on the south?........Thanks...............Todd surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D15263 Trying to put my finger on understanding what oceanographic conditions create closed out wave conditions versus perfectly formed waves. Can you help me out? Is it when you have wind swells that are most likely to create closed out waves, or something else? Thanks. - N.Rhodes Gardner, San Jose, CA. surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D15262 Ok so I've been looking at the details and I've already got stumped. As I understand it, wind starts from air moving from high pressure areas to low pressure areas and air pressure is measured in millibars. Here's where I'm mixed up: I've been looking at charts of low pressure areas ( smaller circles with lower millibar levels) moving under Africa towards Australia. They're sorta like peaks on a topographical map only just the opposite and the smaller circles represent the "low" instead of the peak. If the wind blows towards the low from the high, how does the wave energy move towards Indo or Western Australia. It seems like I've got the concept in reverse. Dang there goes my career as a forecaster. Thanks for some assistance Barry surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D15261 hey gang i was wondering, how can you predict if there is gonna be a glass off in the evening? can you give me all the indicators to a glass off (i.e. winds, Hi or Lo pressure, etc)? i seem glass-offs occur a lot in the summer, so i wanna know to better schedule my sessions. thanks chris surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D15260 Dear Surfline Forecasters, This is my second year surfing in Southern California, and I have now surfed every season twice. To me it is obvious that winter offers the bigger NW swells which we all like, and occasional S swells in summer... besides that, I was wondering if you could give me a more precise summary of the four surfing seasons in Southern California.. the pros, cons, and what to expect for each. Thanks a bunch. Robbie surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D15219 There really wasn't a winter this year in ny at least not a real one will the unusually high temps for this winter effect the water temps for the summer and if so what effects could it have as far as summer swells go. surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D15119 Whats up forecasters, I was at Huntington this past weekend, and i was noticing that the water was more turbid than normal, i couldnt tell what it was. My first guess might of been red tide, for the water had a rusty hue to it... but i'm not certain. The particulates were not granular in texture like sand; which eliminated the possibility that it was a rip kicking sand up hence causing the brown/rusty water. Provided the assumption that it WAS red tide, what causes it? The lack of swell (for i remember during the summer flat spells the red tide would rears its ugly head)? temperature change in water? anyways just curious thanks J0sh surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D14984 What is the difference between refraction and diffraction? I hear these words use interchangeably so what's the difference? surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D14969 Hy Guys, Simple question: why do groundswells usually move from west to east? Thanks, Eduardo Sao Paulo, Brasil surfline http://www.surfline.com/redirect/?code=RSS&subcode=SURFWIRE&url=%2Fsurfline%2Fforecasts4%2Fforecast%5Fblog%5Fentry%2Ecfm%3Fid%3D14968 Hey guys, why doesn't the Newport Pier ever break? Blackies breaks on a west and the point breaks on a south, but the pier itself never seems to have any waves. It's shallow enough (unlike Balboa) but never seems to break like the Huntington and San Clemente piers do. Just wondering. Steve surfline