

Local weather does not often produce great surf because swells need time and space (fetch) to become organized. Popular surf destinations tend to be located in geographic regions that are in a position to be regularly impacted by swells. The consistency of surf is dependent on the consistency of global weather patterns. Wind speed, direction, and fetch all contribute to creating waves and swell. Waves are required in order to have surf. If the map does not display but requires you to log in your organization account, log out of your organization account in the browser, and then refresh this page. The map below shows some popular surf spots. Well known surf spots tend to have consistent waves, favorable weather, beneficial geographic orientation, and tidal fluctuations conducive to their geography. In general, a good surf spot is one that breaks fairly often and in a manner that offers rideable waves. People can be found watching and riding waves worldwide, from Japan to Spain to Africa to the great lakes of North America. Tsunamis look like walls of white water advancing toward shore and can cause great damage when they run up the beach and onto land.

Tsunami waves and tidal bores are examples of surging breakers. 5.4 C) form when large waves suddenly hit bottom in shallow water. Spilling waves can offer long distance rides for surfers as the wave breaks toward shore. Unlike plunging waves, spilling waves break slowly over considerable distances. Spilling waves advance to shore with a line of foam tumbling steadily down the front of the wave face. Spilling breakers form when fast-moving water at the top of a wave spills over slower-moving water at the bottom. 5.4 B) form when the bottom slopes gradually. If the bottom is very steep, a plunging wave becomes a collapsing wave, when the top of the wave breaks onto the lower part of the wave. Water from colliding waves can also explode, forming geysers of white water as the wave breaks. Air trapped inside the barrel of the wave may explode or spit out of the barrel as the wave races along. Plunging waves form tubes or barrels that cascade water in a circular motion downward into the trough and break with a forceful crash, rapidly releasing energy. 5.4 A) form where there is a moderately steep, sloping bottom.
