A swell is characterized by an upward bulge in the pavement's surface. A swell may occur sharply over a small area or as a longer, gradual wave. Either type of swell can be accompanied by surface cracking. A swell is usually caused by frost action in the subgrade or by swelling soil, but a small swell can also occur on the surface of an asphalt overlay (over PCC) as a result of a blowup in the PCC slab.