Just think of it as cause and effect: Wind Speed – Strong constant winds create larger waves, as opposed to short bursts of wind. Optionally, lolling short breezes may create ripples. Wind Duration – The longer winds gust across open water, the larger waves will be.

Ripples in a lake, scientifically known as capillary waves, are primarily caused by the friction between the moving air (wind) and the surface of the water. Even a very light breeze transfers kinetic energy to the water molecules, causing them to move in a circular motion that appears as a ripple. The surface tension of the water acts as a "restoring force," trying to pull the water back to a flat state, which creates the oscillating wave pattern. Ripples can also be caused by physical displacement, such as a fish jumping, a stone being thrown, or a boat moving through the water. Unlike larger waves, ripples are transient; because they have relatively little energy, they dissipate quickly once the source of the disturbance (like the wind or the splash) stops. If the wind is sustained and strong over a large area, these small ripples can eventually accumulate enough energy to grow into larger gravity waves.