How is surfing scientific

Surface wind analyses also confirm whether wind speeds are strong enough to produce a swell. Data obtained from the satellite can help determine ocean wave heights. The data from these and other satellites are not only crucial to surfers. They are also particularly important for monitoring events on the ocean's surface inside large storms, where the view is obstructed by clouds and where neither buoys nor ships can reach.

Fine resolution radar imagery from synthetic aperture radar including from the Canadian Space Agency's Radarsat as well as the European Space Agency's second European Remote Sensing satellite, produce detailed imagery of ocean swell useful for measuring wave direction and wave height.

From such imagery, you can visualize waves forming within storms and changing their structure and direction as they approach the shore. The scatterometer provides extreme detail with a specialized microwave radar capable of measuring near-surface wind speed and direction under almost all weather and cloud conditions. It also tracks almost percent of the global ocean's surface in a hour period, combining the abilities of both the Special Sensor Microwave Imager sensors and the second European Remote Sensing satellite.

The quality and strength of its signal enables the QuikScat satellite to provide more detail and accuracy than previous technology could, making it the standard for viewing surface wind direction and speed inside ocean storms. Overwhelmed by all this technology? Never fear. One basic formula-big storms equal big surf-is all surfers need to grab a board and hit the waves.

Sadly, this didn't work but it was the beginning of another beautiful relationship…with science! Read more». Skip to navigation Skip to content. The Surfing Scientist.

Ninja science trick Nunchucks, check! DIY Easter jumping beans Turn your Easter egg wrapper into a colourful critter that jitters like a Mexican jumping bean. So you watch the waves for a while and you kind of figure out where the quality waves first pick up. Surfline, the U. Surfline has been studying the local conditions since and is currently forecasting sizable waves during the early days of the competition period thanks to a brewing typhoon.

Korte said he'll be at the beach before sunrise at 4 a. He'll advise officials from the ISA, the Olympic governing body, and event managers. The call on whether to go ahead with the competition will be made on site each day by about 7 a. Surfers may be some of the only people who get excited to hear about a big storm, though they hope the typhoons, hurricanes and tropical weather systems stay hundreds of miles offshore.

They calculate where the storm hits and how fast it's moving, then reverse engineer to project how many miles it is away from a certain beach to determine which days those ripples should make it onto shore. The way the weather is currently moving is a major win for the Olympics, given that Tsurigasaki is not generally known for powerful waves. The beach is popular for surfing in Japan but is hardly a world class location like Hawaii or Tahiti.

Korte said Tsurigasaki typically offers surfing conditions like those seen on the coast of North Carolina. Many surfers have verbalized their fears that their grand global debut will be blunted by mediocre waves, though Korte rejects the notion that the world's best athletes could possibly disappoint in such a beautiful, visually stunning sport.

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