While the Great Lakes don't generate waves as large as the ocean due to their shorter fetches, they can still experience significant wave heights. Specifically, waves on Lake Superior have been recorded at an average height of 26.6 feet.
Understanding Great Lakes Wave Size
The size of waves on a body of water is primarily determined by three factors:
- Wind Speed: Stronger winds push harder on the water surface, creating larger waves.
- Fetch: This is the distance the wind blows over open water without obstruction. The longer the fetch, the more time and space the wind has to transfer energy to the waves, allowing them to grow larger. Lake Superior, being the longest of the Great Lakes with a length of 563 km along its longest axis, offers a considerable fetch compared to smaller lakes, though still much less than an ocean.
- Duration: The length of time the wind blows over the fetch also influences wave size.
Lake Superior: Notable Wave Heights
As mentioned, despite the limitations compared to oceans, the vast expanse of Lake Superior allows for substantial wave development. According to available data:
- Waves on Lake Superior have been recorded reaching an average height of 26.6 feet.
It's important to note that this figure represents an average height. During severe storms with high winds blowing over a long fetch, wave heights can exceed this average significantly, sometimes reaching or even surpassing 30 feet.
Comparing Great Lakes and Ocean Waves
Ocean waves can achieve much greater heights due to the immense fetches available across the world's oceans. However, the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Superior, can generate steep and powerful waves that pose serious hazards to mariners, sometimes referred to as "lake effect" waves.
While an average height of 26.6 feet on Lake Superior is substantial, it's not typical for all Great Lakes under all conditions. Wave conditions vary greatly depending on the specific lake, location, wind conditions, and time of year.
