Using examples, explain how wave refraction is different from wave reflection

What will be an ideal response?


The slowing and bending of waves in shallow water is wave refraction. This happens as the waves move from deeper water into shallow water, the forward speed of the wave slows down. The portion of the wave still in deep water is traveling faster, and as it encounters the bottom, it too slows. This is why waves appear to take the shape of the shoreline as they approach wave refraction. When a wave hits a solid object such as a seawall, jetty, island, or some other solid structure, the wave is reflected off the object in the opposite direction with little loss of wave energy.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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a. True b. False

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Temperature and relative humidity typically display opposite behavior: when one increases, the other decreases. This is because [INSERT FIGURE 5-7. NO CAPTION.]

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Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences