Quote:
Originally posted by SYDNEY STEVE:
Ever since I saw the size of the Edmund Fitzgerald from a tribute site for those lost, I have wondered how tall the waves get when things turn nasty on Lake Superior (when a ship of that size could be brought to grief !)
I have seen a number of people posting on corfid mention they live in the region and thought that they might act as " Lighthead lightshedders".
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According to this NOAA website :
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mqt/fitzgerald/gales.htm
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"Being the largest of the Great Lakes, the waves on Lake Superior can build higher than on any of the other Great Lakes. The wave heights forecasted and recorded are the significant wave height, which is defined as the average height of the one-third highest waves--generally what an experienced observer would most frequently report. Significant wave heights of around 26 feet are about as high as waves can build on Lake Superior no matter how strong the wind is or how long it blows. This maximum significant wave height is constrained by the fetch or distance that the wind can blow across the waters of Lake Superior. Because of changing wind speeds, wind directions, wind duration and fetch, the actual state of the lake is comprised of a spectrum of wave heights. While the significant wave height is generally what is observed and recorded, it is very important to note that the rare peak waves can be as much as twice the significant wave height."
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The website quoted above is about the advances in Marine Forcasting since the Edmund Fitzgerald went down. It has sections about the ship, as well as the Fall Storm season on the lake. Its a very interesting site for those looking for more info about the Edmund Fitzgerald,Lake Superior or the science of storm forcasting.
Erica
[ June 03, 2005, 12:37: Message edited by: Sundreme ]
