The action of waves The power of waves is one of the most significant forces of coastal change. Waves are created by wind blowing over the surface of the sea. As the wind blows over the sea, friction is created - producing a swell in the water. The energy of the wind causes water particles to rotate inside the swell and this moves the wave forward. The size and energy of a wave is influenced by: • how long the wind has been blowing • the strength of the wind • how far the wave has travelled (the fetch) This activity shows the length of fetch along the south coast of England: You have an old or no version of flash - you need to upgrade to view this funky content! Go to the WebWise Flash install guide Your web browser does not have JavaScript switched on at the moment. For information on how to enable JavaScript please go to the Webwise site. You will not be able to see this content until you have JavaScript switched on. Waves can be destructive or constructive. When a wave breaks, water ... Read more »