Sea surf is the foamy surface that forms when ocean waves break as they reach the shore.
Understanding Sea Surf
The phenomenon of sea surf is a natural part of how waves interact with the coastline. As ocean surface waves approach a shore, they interact with the bottom. This interaction causes the waves to change shape; they grow taller and steeper. Eventually, they become unstable and break, releasing their energy. The foamy surface that is created by this breaking process is called surf.
The Surf Zone
The area where this wave breaking consistently occurs is known as the surf zone. This zone is located closest to the shore and is characterized by the presence of breaking waves and the resulting surf. It's the dynamic area where the transition from deep-water waves to near-shore breaking waves happens.
