Raw spectral energy for our buoys for swell 22, Oct 29-31 2002

San Francisco spectrum
HMB Buoy

California buoy spectrum
CA Buoy

SE Papa buoy spectrum
SE Papa Buoy

What the swell looked like at creation
SE Papa Buoy

What the swell looked like at creation
QSCAT winds from SSMI

This was a storm that was further south than normal for this time of year. It generated swell for about 60 hours, although substantial 20 second energy for only about 12 hours, shown, on Oct 27th. It came in weaker than expected at first (8-9 ft 20), and then onshore winds pumped it up to 12 ft 17 seconds in the afternoon on the 30th. The 31st was 8-9 ft 14 seconds all day, and it was 6 ft 13 sec on the 1st, but dropped during the day to 4 ft. The onshores when it hit disrupted the normal size progression - it didn't attenuate between the CA buoy and shore. Note also the SF Buoy is out - this spectrum comes from the HMB Buoy.