High-resolution images of the ocean surface are examined using digital processing, achieving quantifications of actively breaking (W-A), maturing (W-B), and total (W-T = W-A+W-B) whitecaps. The images are selected from two data sets of the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean to sample a maximal range of environmental conditions. A total of 125,860 images were processed and averaged to establish 622 10 min periods. Parameterizing W-A, W-B, and W-T with wind speed achieved modest correlations while also displaying large variabilities. Parameterizing W-T with wind speed and specific Reynolds numbers achieved correlation coefficients ranging from 0.76 to 0.79. The filtering of W-T into its active stage of evolution W-A and subsequent fittings with wind speed and specific Reynolds numbers achieved reduced correlation coefficients ranging from 0.62 to 0.66. We suggest that the contribution of W-B serves to conceal and thus underestimate the variability of actively breaking waves.