Swell Waves
Published on 05 Mar 2025
• Recently, coastal areas in southern and central Kerala experienced inundation from swell waves.
• Swell waves are rolling waves that travel long distances after being generated by distant storms or strong winds.
• They are distinct from wind waves, which are created by local winds and are choppy and chaotic. Swell waves, on the other hand, are smoother and more uniform, with longer wavelengths and periods.
• Once formed, they are not significantly affected by local winds.
• Locally known as ‘Kallakkadal’ in Kerala, Swell waves result in inundation as the sea surges into the land.
