The waves tend to have rounded crests and nonuniform sizes. Most have symmetrical profiles, but some are asymmetrical, most facing in a westerly direction on east-west tracklines. The waves typically are less than 3m high and up to 200 m wavelength. Many are underlain by a flat to wavy reflector, which distinguishes them from reef mounds. Their trends are northwest to northeast.
Some ripples appear highly degraded, and others have crests that are short and disorganized.
No inferences regarding current direction can be made for those ripples. However, many, if not most ripples are fresh in appearance, and a dominant crestal trend can be discerned. Ripple type and orientation can change significantly over short distances. The megaripples mentioned above face east, as do their superimposed ripples. 08 Oct 97.