1. Hanah Allen CCM Question 3

2. An experienced surfer at Fort Point in San Francisco, California drowned on Monday January 28, 2013 at 11 am. News reports say that the surfer was caught in currents and may have drowned after being washed out to sea. The family of this surfer would like to know more information about the conditions in San Francisco bay that day to determine the accuracy of the news reports. You have been hired to: Determine wave heights and swell direction Access the tides Determine the speed of the currents at the time of the accident Conclude if the news reports were conceivable

3. Fort Point, San Francisco Map Generated by Google Maps

4. January 28, 2013, Fort Point Photo Via Surfline

5. Fort Point Conditions - Rocky bottom -Typically wave height is 3-5 feet -Strong rip currents and undertows -Experiences Semi-Diurnal Tides Swell DirectionWave HeightsWater Temperature Air Temperature WNW 5-7 feet 50-53 F 64 F Surf Report January 28, 2013 Fort Point via Surfline Swell: Series of waves that are not generated by local wind, but by storms. The waves then propagate to shorelines.

6. Tidal Data - San Francisco bay experiences semi- diurnal tides. - On January 28, 2013 at the closest time of the incident, there was a high tide at 1148 of 5.9 feet. Units are in feet above or below average sea level

7. Current Data: There was a maximum flood tide at 10:51 of 2.8 knots (3.2 mph). Slack: The predicted times of slack water listed indicates the instant of zero velocity. Ebb: The receding or outgoing tide; the period between high water and the succeeding low water. Flood: The incoming or rising tide; the period between low water and the succeeding high water.

8. Conclusion Based on tide and current data, swell direction, and wave heights news reports are inaccurate. It is not likely the surfer was swept out to sea because the tide was flooding at the time of the accident at a speed of 2.8 knots.