The big waves, or swells, are typically generated in the southern hemisphere throughout winter, when big storms brew in the southern Pacific Ocean. The waves can travel thousands of miles, crossing the equator and ultimately reaching Mauis southern shore, where it is summer. The waves can lose energy along the way as they experience various island chains in the South Pacific.
The foam produced by breaking waves appears in satellite images as a white strip close to the coast. In the image above, acquired on October 3, 2018, with the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8, a percentage of foam is visible near the harbor. The late season waves were most likely influenced by Hurricane Walaka, a category-4 storm centered about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) west of Māʻalaea.
Mild offshore winds support the wave front, helping create the smooth, steep face that web surfers seek. Offshore winds that are too strong can prevent a wave from breaking at all.
On the celebrations when waves in Māʻalaea Bay do break, they do so with crushing speed like a freight train. Strong currents in the bay, perhaps enhanced by the harbor, can also make the wave break quicker.
December 15, 2021. (Click image for wider, high-resolution view.).
When waves are ripping in Māʻalaea Bay, conditions are usually peaceful off the islands northern coast– that is, till winter season, when storms are brewing in the North Pacific. Winter season weather condition systems in the basin produce the swell that marches toward Mauis northern coast. Unimpeded by other island chains, they keep more energy throughout their shorter journey and produce the islands famously large winter waves.
Notice the considerable quantity of foam from breaking waves noticeable in this image, gotten on December 15, 2021, with Landsat 8. Peahi, at the ideal side of the image, is near the particularly large break referred to as Jaws. Waves here can grow as high as 70 feet (20 meters).
” These are some of the biggest– rideable and available– waves on the planet,” said Stopa, who studies winds, waves, and climate. He is less sure, however, about Freight Trains claim to popularity as the “fastest” wave. “I believe this is based on the internet users experience with surfing the wave instead of an unbiased method based upon observations.”.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, utilizing Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
The foam produced by breaking waves shows up in satellite images as a white strip close to the coast. On the events when waves in Māʻalaea Bay do break, they do so with crushing speed like a freight train. Strong currents in the bay, possibly enhanced by the harbor, can likewise make the wave break faster.
Notification the considerable quantity of foam from breaking waves visible in this image, obtained on December 15, 2021, with Landsat 8.” These are some of the biggest– accessible and rideable– waves on the world,” stated Stopa, who studies winds, waves, and climate.
October 3, 2018. (Click image for larger, high-resolution view.).
When large waves break in Māʻalaea Bay, they do so with the crushing speed of a freight train.
” Freight Trains” and “Jaws” might sound like summertime film hits, however the names belong to two of Mauis many iconic waves. They are revered by web surfers for good reason. Freight Trains has been called among the fastest surfable waves in the world, while Jaws is better known for big-wave surfing.
The surf break referred to as “Freight Trains” rips throughout Māʻalaea Bay on Mauis southern coast. Web surfers state that the substantial, surfable break here is fairly uncommon. Conditions require to be ideal: particularly, large waves must approach the bay from the best south or southeasterly direction.
