What term denotes a wind-generated wave formed by wind action on the ocean surface?

What term denotes a wind-generated wave formed by wind action on the ocean surface?

• A. Wind Wave
• B. Apogee
• C. Wavelength
• D. Astronomical Tide

Answer: (A)

Wind waves are created when wind transfers energy to the surface of the ocean through friction, generating waves that form and grow as long as the wind blows over a stretch of water. They arise locally and depend on wind speed, how long the wind has blown, and the fetch (the distance over which the wind travels across open water). This makes “wind waves” the best term for a wave formed directly by wind action on the surface. The other terms don’t describe this process: apogee refers to the farthest point in an orbit and isn’t about waves; wavelength is simply the distance between successive crests or troughs, not the formation mechanism; astronomical tide is the tide driven by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, not wind.

Wind waves are created when wind transfers energy to the surface of the ocean through friction, generating waves that form and grow as long as the wind blows over a stretch of water. They arise locally and depend on wind speed, how long the wind has blown, and the fetch (the distance over which the wind travels across open water). This makes “wind waves” the best term for a wave formed directly by wind action on the surface.

The other terms don’t describe this process: apogee refers to the farthest point in an orbit and isn’t about waves; wavelength is simply the distance between successive crests or troughs, not the formation mechanism; astronomical tide is the tide driven by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, not wind.