A breaking wave whose crest slides down the face is called what?

A breaking wave whose crest slides down the face is called what?

• A. Plunging Wave
• B. Spilling Wave
• C. Surging Wave
• D. Breaking Wave

Answer: (B)

Breaking waves can be distinguished by how the crest behaves as they release energy. When the crest slides down the front of the wave, it spills forward rather than curling into a tube or slamming up the shore. That gradual spilling is the hallmark of a spilling wave: the crest becomes unstable and simply pours down the face, creating white, foamy water along the wave’s front. In contrast, a plunging wave curls over and forms a hollow tube as it breaks, a surging wave moves up the shore with little visible break, and a generic “breaking wave” label doesn’t specify this distinctive spilling action. So the wave described is a spilling wave.

Breaking waves can be distinguished by how the crest behaves as they release energy. When the crest slides down the front of the wave, it spills forward rather than curling into a tube or slamming up the shore. That gradual spilling is the hallmark of a spilling wave: the crest becomes unstable and simply pours down the face, creating white, foamy water along the wave’s front. In contrast, a plunging wave curls over and forms a hollow tube as it breaks, a surging wave moves up the shore with little visible break, and a generic “breaking wave” label doesn’t specify this distinctive spilling action. So the wave described is a spilling wave.