1. A method of predicting a future sea state comprising: generating a sequence of at least two 3D images of a sea surface using at least two image sensors; detecting peaks and troughs in the 3D images using a processor; identifying at least one wavefront in each 3D image based upon the detected peaks and troughs using the processor; characterizing at least one propagating wave based upon the propagation of wavefronts detected in the sequence of 3D images using the processor; and predicting a future sea state using the at least one propagating wave characterizing the propagation of wavefronts in the sequence of 3D images using the processor.