Topic Summaries

Wave types and characteristics

GCSE > Geography > Edexcel A > GCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Coastal landscapes > Wave types and characteristics
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Earth layers and earthquakes

Tectonic plate margins

Responses to tectonic hazards

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

  • Constructive waves: low energy, strong swash, weak backwash. These waves build up beaches by depositing sediment.
  • Destructive waves: high energy, weak swash, strong backwash. These waves erode the coastline by removing sediment. 
  • Wave height and length depend on wind strength, duration, and fetch (i.e. the distance the wind blows over water).

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