Howdy! can be replied to with just a nod and a smile. It simply means Hi! in Texan - not How are you doing?. Or you might reply, Hey Y'all Doon? if you want to engage in proper Texan interactions. Replying in proper English, well pronounced, with each syllable clearly spoken, is HIGHLY discouraged.
The crest of a wave is the point of maximum positive displacement, or upward movement, away from equilibrium, or an undisturbed state. The opposite of crest is trough, which is the point of the greatest negative, downward displacement.
Sea state describes the combination of sea (wind) waves and swell. Wave height (trough to crest) for both sea and swell refers to 'significant wave height' which represents the average height of the highest one-third of the waves. Some waves will be higher and some lower than the significant wave height. The probable maximum wave height can be up to twice the significant wave height.