What do the buoy graphs mean?

The StokeReport oceanography team has produced a unique visualization of NOAA buoy data. The buoy graphs show not only historical but also predicted swells.

We merge data from several buoys in the break's swell window. We use the closest buoy to make the near prediction. Further out buoys provide further out prediction. These graphs factor in swell decay and amplitude magnification as swells travel towards the shore.

The diagram below illustrates the main features of the graph:

These graphs allow you to answer questions like, "what will the swell be like tomorrow morning when I get up?"

Although we try to make these graphs as accurate as possible, please don't rely on them for anything that might involve injury or death. That would be stupid.

See Also

• What do the tide graphs mean?
• What do the wind graphs mean?