Mapping the largest swells of more than a decade by shipping forecast areas.
I've been interested in the stories that wave patterns reveal since observing seasonal shifts. As soon as summer changes to autumn, the swell size jumps significantly.
But what patterns do different locations reveal?
Using the shipping forecasts as a guide, I explored the largest wave heights by area, working my way around the coastline in a clockwise direction.
Specification
297mm W x 210mm H (A4) Limited Edition (100) Letterpress 270gsm Natural Coloplan Paper
Details
This wave was created from the largest waves over 12 years, where each line represents a different location and the length reveals wave height. The longer the line, the larger the swell.
The text lists the locations in the order of the lines.
The Hebrides consistently has the largest swells but if we were interested in anomalies and not patterns, Porthleven (Plymouth) had the largest freak wave over the period, which is why the text is italicised.
A nod to the outliers.
Data Source
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science National Network of Regional Coastal Monitoring
