Why is the Med choppy?!

[dart]

We've all heard that the Med is choppy, but why is that?

I've just got back from the Med and it seems to be true.

My (not very good theories) are:

1) Its psychological, we expect the Med to be flat but its not so it seems choppy
2) The extra salt means the water is heavier
3) The earth is rotating faster


<hr width=100% size=1>Marine weather maps by mobile: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.zipget.com>ZipGet</A>

 

[Sans Bateau]

I believe the reason is that the Med is, in relative terms a 'small' sea. The coast of North Africa and Southern Europe are really quite close. So for starters a wave traveling north to south does not have the distance to 'run out' of energy before it hits the coast, it then reflects off that coast and starts to collide with other waves coming toward it. This is similar to the short chop we experiance in the Solent. However this is due to the large number of boats/ships creating wake, the wakes bounce off each other and the shore to produce the chop. Add to that the strong Med winds that spring up, and these help keep the sea 'on the move'.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[silverseal]

Because it is a shallow sea.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[LadyInBed]

Convection currents + all the rest . . .

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

Hope this is a tongue in cheek remark - or else, when did you last look at a Med chart?

John

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I'm in my second season in the Med, last year in the South of France and this year in the Costa Blanca in Spain and I certainly agree that the Med sea state can be very unpredictable. FWIW, I've noted the following
1. The depths are relatively shallow
2. Much of the coastline is steep-to. This not only causes reflected waves but also serves to increase wind strength by funneling the wind
3. There seem to be no prevailing wind directions. The wind can come from any direction and change quickly, less so in SoF but very apparent on the Costa Blanca
4. There are strong sea breeze effects during the day and in some areas strong land breeze effects at night
5. You can get a number of different weather systems in the Med at any one time which may cause a swell to occur in other areas
Having said this, the weather is still generally more settled than the UK, especially during the summer

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[brianhumber]

Lots of local strong winds and quite low pressures. Once had Force 10+ all the way from Alex to way past Malta ( blizzard). Paid off in Fos where palm trees breaking under snow. Whole deck awash and sometimes you could not see the king posts derricks.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

I'd suggest another theory - the wind directions and speeds are totally random - there's no "prevailing" wind. In a distance of 40M you can go through 3/4 differing wind directions (by as much as 180) and many wind speeds.

Result thoroughly confused waves, looking for something to vent their indignation on.

Have you also noted that contrary to normal seas, the shallower the water the less difficult the waves.

<hr width=100% size=1>