Now, let’s turn our attention to those striking red arrows, much like the ones gracing Figure 1. They’re like nature’s way of pointing us in the direction of the swell. Swell, in oceanic terms, refers to a series of majestic, long-period waves that have embarked on epic journeys across vast stretches of open water. These swell waves owe their existence to distant weather phenomena, such as powerful storms or commanding winds, often originating hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away from where they make their awe-inspiring presence felt.

But, back to the nitty-gritty of our own shipboard experience. The wind speed, as dutifully measured aboard our trusty vessel, decided to kick things up a notch starting from Wednesday, with a modest 6 m/s, and culminating in a mighty crescendo at around 18:00 (Coordinated Universal Time or UTC) on Thursday, reaching a formidable 30 m/s. During this tempestuous period, we happened to be en route from our PIES array to Flemish Cap, which meant that no active fieldwork could be carried out amidst these relentless elements.

And speaking of measuring wind speed, there’s the venerable Beaufort Scale, a system forged by the illustrious British Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort in the early 19th century. This timeless scale remains a trusted tool for gauging and articulating wind speeds based on real-world observations, be it out at sea or on the land. Originally conceived to assist sailors in assessing wind strength, the Beaufort Scale has since been embraced across various domains, including meteorology, aviation, and outdoor activities. In our own memorable encounter with the elements, we found ourselves squarely in the midst of a robust 11 Beaufort wind force during what we might affectionately term as our “prime time.”