In the context of constructive waves, what is the relationship between swash and backwash?

Study for the Leaving Certificate Geography Test. Gain insight with scenarios and multiple choice questions. Equip yourself with exam-ready knowledge!

In the context of constructive waves, swash refers to the movement of water up the beach after a wave breaks, while backwash is the water that flows back down the beach after the wave has receded. For constructive waves, the key characteristic is that they have a strong swash and a weaker backwash. This leads to the situation where the swash is greater than backwash.

The stronger swash effectively deposits more sand and materials on the beach, contributing to beach formation and gradual accumulation of sediment. This is in contrast to destructive waves, where backwash predominates, leading to erosion. Therefore, in the case of constructive waves, there is a clear relationship where the energy and impact of swash exceed that of backwash, resulting in the correct answer that swash is greater than backwash.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy