What term describes a wind wave system that is generated and affected directly by local winds?

The term that describes a wind wave system that is generated and affected directly by local winds is known as a wind sea. Wind seas are typically characterized by short wavelengths and steep wave heights, as they form in the immediate vicinity of wind conditions. The relationship between the wind and the waves is direct; the energy from the wind transfers to the water surface, producing waves that reflect the local wind patterns.

Unlike swells, which are waves that have traveled beyond their point of origin and often come from distant weather systems, wind seas are all about the current conditions in the localized area. Storm surges are typically related to changes in atmospheric pressure and wind associated with storms, leading to water level rise along coastlines. Seiches are oscillations in water levels within closed or semi-closed bodies of water, caused by wind or changes in atmospheric pressure, but they do not refer to the waves generated by local winds on open water bodies. Therefore, the term wind sea accurately captures the essence of waves formed due to direct local wind action.