ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cross sea

Cross sea is when waves from different directions meet each other, creating a pattern of crisscrossing waves on the surface of the water. Imagine if you had two toy boats in a bathtub, and you made waves by splashing water from two sides at the same time. The waves would meet each other and sometimes they would make each other bigger or smaller, and sometimes they would cancel each other out. This is exactly what happens in a cross sea, except on a much larger scale, like in the ocean.

When strong winds blow over the ocean, they create waves that move in the direction of the wind. But if the wind suddenly changes direction, or if there are other winds blowing from a different direction, the waves will meet and collide, creating a cross sea. This can be dangerous for boats and swimmers because the crisscrossing waves can create unpredictable currents and waves that can be difficult to manage.

In short, a cross sea is when waves from different directions meet and create a pattern of crisscrossing waves, and it can be dangerous for boats and swimmers.