Science Common Sense

1570 - Why do waves affect the coastline and what is the main cause of their formation?

Waves affect the coastline because they constantly move and hit the land, causing erosion (eating away) and deposition (depositing sediment) along the shoreline.

The main cause of wave formation is the wind. When wind blows over the ocean, it makes the water move, creating ripples that grow into waves. The stronger the wind, the bigger the waves will be. As the waves reach the coastline, they can cause changes to the shape of the beach, like wearing away cliffs or creating new sandbars.

Think of it like when you throw a stone into a pool, it creates ripples that move through the water. It's kind of like that, but with wind creating the ripples in the ocean.