Understanding Mavericks: The Science of Big Waves

What is Mavericks compared to in the surfing world?

• The Alps

• The Sahara

• Mount Everest

• The Rocky Mountains

Who was the first person to surf Mavericks?

• Jeff Clark

• Clark Kent

• Grant Washburn

• Jefferson Davis

What technology helps predict when big waves at Mavericks will occur?

• Telescopes

• Satellite technology

• Sonar mapping

• Underwater drones

What are the three essential elements needed for big waves?

• Wind speed, fetch, duration

• Pressure, depth, density

• Salinity, tide, current

• Temperature, humidity, altitude

What is the term used to describe the transformation of waves into shallow water waves?

• Shoaling

• Diffraction

• Reflection

• Refraction

How does the seafloor topography affect the waves at Mavericks?

• It changes the water color

• It focuses and amplifies the waves

• It diminishes wave size

• It has no effect

What causes the waves at Mavericks to rise dramatically?

• Coral reefs

• Rocks on the ocean floor

• Floating debris

• Sandbanks

What natural phenomenon is said to shake the North American plate?

• Tornadoes

• Mavericks' waves

• Volcanic eruptions

• Earthquakes

What is the effect of Mavericks' waves on the UC Berkeley seismograph?

• They improve its accuracy

• They have no effect

• They register like earthquakes

• They cause minor errors

What is the primary challenge surfers face when surfing Mavericks?

• The popularity of the spot

• The cold water temperature

• The risk of shark attacks

• The powerful wave energy