What two factors determine how far from the shoreline waves will begin to break?

1 Answer
Jan 11, 2018

Wave length/height and seafloor slope

Explanation:

A wave transmit energy through the water but there is no actual transport of water until the waves breaks.

The point at which a wave breaks is determined by the depth of the seafloor and the height (H) and length(L) of the wave.

A wave approaching shallow-water increases its H and reduces its L until a critical H/L > 1/7 is reached.

At this point the wave becomes unstable and breaking occurs. This is also called the "surf zone".

On steeper slopes the H/L ratio increases faster leading to formation of surf.