Wind wave

A surface wave on a body of water generated by wind transferring energy to the water. Wind waves range from small ripples to large waves.

Wind-wave growth: The increase in wind-wave height and energy as wind acts across a water surface. Explains how sustained wind builds waves from initial surface disturbances.
Wavelength: The distance between corresponding points on successive cycles of a wave. It helps distinguish short, locally forced waves from longer waves.
Sea state: The condition of the sea surface, described by waves and their distribution of heights, periods, and directions. A sea state combines the locally generated waves into an overall surface description.
Wave forecast: A prediction of future sea-surface wave conditions, including height, period, and direction. Forecasts estimate how wind and fetch will shape upcoming wave conditions.
Fetch: The uninterrupted distance over water across which wind blows in a consistent direction. Along with wind speed and duration, fetch limits how large waves can grow.
Wave period: The time between successive wave crests passing a fixed point. Period connects observed wave motion to wavelength and propagation speed.
Ocean surface wave: A wave that propagates along the boundary between the ocean and the atmosphere. Wind waves are one class of ocean-surface wave.
Wave buoy: A floating instrument that measures ocean waves and often transmits observations to shore. Buoys provide direct measurements used to monitor and validate wind-wave forecasts.
Wave age: The ratio of a wave’s phase speed to the speed of the wind generating it. Indicates whether waves are still growing under the wind or have outrun it.
Wave height: The vertical distance from a wave crest to its adjacent trough. It is a basic measure of the size of wind-generated waves.

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Ocean currentCompared with: Wind can generate both waves and currents, but their motion and transport differ.