Near-real time swell system (Pacific Ocean)

Using the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) instrument aboard Envisat, scientists are locating and tracking swells in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans in near-real time.

This animation shows near-real time tracked swells across the Pacific Ocean from 25 July to 31 July 2008. Colour correlates to the wavelength of the waves tracked by the Envisat ASAR Wave mode, with red being the longest.