Waves in lakes

[KR]

I've taken Oceanography and I live next to the ocean and I have a pretty good understanding of swells, currents, plates etc. However, I have no idea how their are "waves" in lakes. Is it from wind? Boat wake? I am really curious...

:shrug:

 

[KR]

Sorry, can admin move this to general?

 

[Idok]

wind

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

That depends on how big the lake is. A small inland lake will get little more than a ripple because of wind. Numerous larger boats ripping by can make things get wavy but it's pretty chaotic with no rhyme or reason to it. This makes it hard to actually do anything with the wave on a ski unless you are hitting the waves just as they come off a boat (which is technically illegal).

Large lakes can get HUGE waves on account of wind and the boats have little to no effect. Lake Michigan for example can get waves in the 20+ foot range given the right wind conditions. I'm not sure how or why, but sometimes the waves are very organized and smooth in between themselves and sometimes it's bs chop in between the waves which makes it really hard to enjoy them. Maybe it's gusty wind vs. constant wind? I used to think it was wind direction but that is not the case.

 

[wydopen]

I'm not sure how or why, but sometimes the waves are very organized and smooth in between themselves and sometimes it's bs chop in between the waves which makes it really hard to enjoy them. Maybe it's gusty wind vs. constant wind? I used to think it was wind direction but that is not the case.

same as the ocean..when you are close to the source (the wind) the waves are closer together...when ts windy far away the waves are further apart (for the most part)

 

[Midlake Crisis]

Giant couches

I've taken Oceanography and I live next to the ocean and I have a pretty good understanding of swells, currents, plates etc. However, I have no idea how their are "waves" in lakes. Is it from wind? Boat wake? I am really curious...
:shrug:

Mostly from giant couches driven by 14 yr. olds and/or drunks.

 

[djkorn1]

same as the ocean..when you are close to the source (the wind) the waves are closer together...when ts windy far away the waves are further apart (for the most part)

Yep. The Wind direction does make a difference. It depends on how far that wave travels. We have alot more lake in Cleveland from the east so our east winds bring better waves than the west.

 

[Frosty]

Yep. The Wind direction does make a difference. It depends on how far that wave travels. We have alot more lake in Cleveland from the east so our east winds bring better waves than the west.

yup. And in Buffalo, the North East end of Lake Erie... South West winds give us killer waves. The Bathymitry (sp) of the lake bottom has the same effect as in the ocean however. Some breaks in shallow water can get extremely large. Some breaks, like where i ride, just out side of the marina breakwall (jetty) allows the waves to almost wrap around the wall spreading the waves out, creating some nice clean waist to head high waves. At that spot, there is a shelf that goes from 30' to 10', cause the waves to jack up pretty good.