Constructive and destructive waves

Destructive waves

The effects of a high wave

• operate in storm conditions.
• are created from big, strong waves when the wind is strong and has been blowing for a long time.
• occur when wave energy is high and the wave has travelled over a long fetch.
• tend to remove material from the coast and are associated with erosion. [erosion: the wearing away of rocks, soil or other solid materials ]
• backwash is stronger than the swash.
• have a short wave length and are high and steep.

Constructive waves

The effects of a low wave

• operate in calm weather.
• are less powerful waves.
• break on the shore and tend to deposit material, building up beaches.
• are responsible for transporting material.
• swash is stronger than the backwash.
• have a long wavelength, a low height and are less steep than destructive waves.