approaching a beach tend to travel in a relatively consistent direction. With a cross sea, however, waves can arrive from different directions and intersect at an angle. Viewed from above, the crests can create a grid-like or checkerboard appearance.
The phenomenon can occur when an existing swell continues traveling while winds change direction and generate another set of waves. It can also happen when separate weather systems generate wave systems that eventually meet in the same area.
That means the unusual pattern isn’t caused by two oceans literally meeting together.
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