Ocean waves

Ocean waves are energy traveling through water, caused mainly by the wind's friction on the surface. When wind blows across the ocean, it transfers energy to the water, creating circular motion that forms waves. These waves have a crest (top) and trough (bottom), and their size depends on wind strength, duration, and distance over which it blows. Waves can also result from tidal forces and underwater disturbances like earthquakes. As waves approach shallow water, they slow down, grow taller, and eventually break, releasing energy to shape coastlines and support marine ecosystems.