Ocean Waves

The lowest part of a wave

• Crest

• Trough

• Bottom

• Base

The distance between two successive waves

• Wave height

• Wave crest

• Wave length

• Fetch

The distance of open water over which a wave has travelled.

• Pitch

• Fetch

• Longwave

• Surface areas

Wave frequency for destructive waves (per minute)

• 3-5

• 6-9

• 10-15

• 15-19

Wave frequency for constructive waves (per minute)

• 3-5

• 6-9

• 10-15

• 15-19

Constructive waves...

• Create flat beaches

• have high frequency of waves per minute

• backwash is greater than the swash

• erode beaches

Destructive waves

• Low wave height

• Build beaches

• Backwash is greater than the swash

• Create flat beaches

Which factor does NOT influence the size of a wave?

• Fetch

• Surface temperature

• Wind speed

• Wind duration

Constructive waves are best for...

• ...Tidal power

• ...surfers

• ...tourism

• ...preventing coastal erosion

Destructive waves are best for...

• ...marine transportation

• ...surfers

• ...tourism

• ...maintaining beaches