Wave Direction and Prevailing Wind

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Your question is this: "How does wave direction relate to prevailing winds?"

Answer:

Prevailing wind is defined as the wind direction, at a specific place, which has a clearly higher frequency than that of any other wind direction (http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/education/msi/glossary/glossary_p_e.html). The relationship between wave direction and the prevailing winds is rather complex and affected by the earth's rotation. Let's look at the ocean as an example.

Friction between wind and the ocean surface helps produce the broad-scale horizontal water ...