Waves Flashcards
What do waves do?
They erode, transport and deposit material along the coast
How are they formed?
By the wind
What is the fetch?
The distance of open sea over which the wind blows, waves with greater fetch are stronger.
What happens when waves reach shallow water and the front of the wave comes into contact with the seabed?
It breaks as it moves towards the shore
What is swash?
When a wave breaks, the water that rushes up on the beach is known as swash.
What is backwash?
The swash that returns back down the beach
What are the 2 types of waves?
Constructive and destructive waves
What are constructive waves?
Waves in which the swash is greater than the backwash. These waves deposit material.
What are destructive waves?
Waves in which the backwash is greater than the swash. These waves erode material and carry it away.
