Here is a brief review of ocean wave dynamics and wind conditions that are conducive to wave growth. They are important factors to keep in mind when interpreting wind and wave height observations and model output, such as from WAVEWATCH III, which we will do in the case study.
Although each of these factors is important to consider, they do not all have the same impact on wave height. Wave height is most sensitive to changes in wind speed, even when fetch or duration is limited. Therefore, when you’re looking for areas of significant wave generation, consider wind speed first, followed by fetch length and wind duration. This helps explains why accurate wind forecasts are so important to wave forecasts in marine meteorology and numerical modeling.