When a wave reaches the shore, it releases a burst of energy that generates a current which runs parallel to the shoreline called a longshore current. When a wave breaks at a steep angle on a beach the longshore current _______________ in velocity. A wave with a wider breaking angle and lower wave height ________________ the longshore current’s velocity.

Question

Responses

A increases, increasesincreases, increases

B decreases, decreasesdecreases, decreases

C decreases, increasesdecreases, increases

D increases, decreasesincreases

Answer 1

The correct response is:

C: decreases, increases.

When a wave breaks at a steep angle on a beach, the longshore current decreases in velocity because the energy of the wave is not as efficiently directed along the shore. Conversely, a wave with a wider breaking angle and lower wave height tends to increase the longshore current's velocity as it allows for more energy to be released along the shore.