We have once again seen the seasons change and with Autumn now in full swing, early morning sessions mean crisp offshore wind and clear skies. As the days get shorter, the dawn sessions become more frequent as do the deep low pressure systems that come swirling through the the southern ocean and roaring 40′s. Winter swells are only a short time away and as we cling to the last few drops of warm water and enjoy the beauty of Autumn, have a look at why this is such a special time of year.
Check out Josh Kerr and Asher Pacey carving some long clean walls in the newest episode of WAX LYRICAL. The legendary wave at Kirra point was once the jewel of Australia. After rocks were moved, sand was pumped and man interacted with the natural flow of erosion, the wave mutated into nothing more than a hyper speed close out. With the exception of a few swells a year the banks at Kirra are but a distant memory. The long draining stand up tubes that resembled the cartoon waves we sketched in our 8th grade notebooks dont happen often but a fun clean swell kept the boys content.
The season is becoming more like Fall here now, Days are getting shorter and more breezy as nights are cooling off, a good change of pace from the sweltering heat and still nights. A few days on the road, searching around for inspiration and waves brought us inland to the rainforest for some serenity and back to the coast for some nice blue surf. With cameras and sketchbooks in tact we set out to capture some of the scenery we came across. They say that the colors green and blue have a calming and stress relieving effects on people. The color blue can make some of us more productive and is the color of inspiration. Here are some greens, blues, and a few other colors for your relaxation and inspiration.
There is always down time when relying on the ocean for swell. The trick is to make the most of the down time and find something fun or productive to do. With the combination of a small wind swell and crazy morning light, Josh Kerr took to the water and then to the air to make something out of nothing. Its always good to have a few down days to make you appreciate the good stuff and build up anticipation for the long range forecast. The fact that the ocean can change dramatically overnight is part of the allure that keeps our heads filled with hope and intrigue. What will tomorrow bring . . . .
Australia is swept by a number of major ocean currents. The East Australian Current (EAC) runs south along the east coast. The Indonesian Flowthrough flows westward from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. This in turn provides a mass of warm water to the Leeuwin current off Western Australia as it sweeps south along the west coast and east along the south coast. South of this, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current flows past South Australia from west to east on its continuous clockwise journey around the globe.
The water is still warm on the East Coast and there has been plenty of swell around the last few weeks. When an east swell combines with sunshine and Easter holidays, the crowds that follow can be a bit much to handle. Luckily there was plenty of surf and smiles going around. Here’s a look at what went down last weekend.
The Atlantic Ocean covers an area of approximately 41,105,000 square miles (106,460,000 square kilometers). Covering approximately 20 percent of the Earth’s surface, the Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean basin in the world, following only the Pacific. However, it is only slightly larger than half the size of the Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean lie […]
Datums are the basis for all geodetic survey work A geodetic datum is an abstract coordinate system with a reference surface (such as sea level) that serves to provide known locations to begin surveys and create maps. In this way, datums act similar to starting points when you give someone directions. For instance, when you want to tell someone how to get to […]
The Sargasso Sea, located entirely within the Atlantic Ocean, is the only sea without a land boundary The Sargasso Sea is a vast patch of ocean is named for a genus of free-floating seaweed called Sargassum. While there are many different types of algae found floating in the ocean all around world, the Sargasso Sea is unique in that it harbors species of sar […]
NOAA's Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System in the Gulf of Mexico identifies whether or not a bloom of algae is likely to contain a toxic species, where it is, how big it is, where it's headed, and if it could become more severe in the near future. Like a weather forecast, this system provides officials advance warning to test and close […]
You won't find Spirobranchus giganteus, also known as the Christmas tree worm, eating your fir tree this year. The common name for these worms is derived from their appearance, not their habitat or diet. Each worm has two brightly colored crowns that protrude from its tube-like body. These Christmas tree-like crowns are composed of radioles, or hair-lik […]
Corals have long been popular as souvenirs, for home decor, and in jewelry, but many consumers are unaware that these beautiful structures are made by living creatures. Fewer still realize that corals are dying off at alarming rates around the world. Coral reefs are some of the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth, but they ar […]
For most areas it could be a matter of years, not days or weeks, before debris from the Japanese tsunami reaches the United States. The debris clumped together when it first washed into the ocean, but it has since dispersed, making it difficult to locate. This makes it hard for scientists to tell what types of debris are still afloat and how much of it will […]
The cryosphere is the frozen water part of the Earth system There are places on Earth that are so cold that water is frozen solid. These areas of snow or ice, which are subject to temperatures below 0°C for at least part of the year, compose the cryosphere. The term “cryosphere” comes from the Greek word, “krios,” which means cold. Ice and snow on land are o […]
Tide and current data is available from NOAA's Center for Operational Products and Services website Tides Tide Predictions. Generate a graphical display or a tabular listing of daily high and low tide predictions for more than 3,000 locations around the nation. Predictions may be generated up to two years in advance. Real-Time Tide Data. Access current […]
'Turkeyfish' is another name for lionfish. Viewed from the right angle, the ornate fins of the lionfish resemble turkey plumage. That's why 'turkeyfish' is one of the many imaginative names people use when referring to the lionfish. Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific, but are now established along the southeast coast of the U.S. […]
While we often think of the earth as a sphere, our planet is actually very bumpy and irregular. The radius at the equator is larger than at the poles due to the long-term effects of the earth's rotation. And, at a smaller scale, there is topography—mountains have more mass than a valley and thus the pull of gravity is regionally stronger near mountains […]
NOAA's Digital Coast provides the data, tools, and training that communities use to manage their coastal resources Geospatial data alone is not enough. For data to be truly useful, additional training, tools, and information are often required. The Digital Coast provides this complete package in one place for coastal officials. The Digital Coast is a co […]
