29-Foot Response Boat–Small (29'RBS) II Boat Crew Practice Test

Which scenario describes a plunging wave?

When the wave encounters a sudden decrease in depth such as a reef or steep rise in the ocean floor. When wave energy encounters a sloping ocean floor, the crest of white water spreads down the wave face. When waves are created on very steep beaches, the wave builds quickly and expends its energy on the beach. When a wave travels long distances without breaking.

Correct Answer:

When the wave encounters a sudden decrease in depth such as a reef or steep rise in the ocean floor.

Explanation:

A plunging wave forms when a wave moving into shallow water suddenly encounters a sharp depth change, causing the crest to outrun the rest of the wave and curl over as it breaks. This happens most clearly over features like a reef or a steep rise in the ocean floor, where the rapid change steepens the wave and makes the crest dive downward into a hollow tube. That curl and forceful crash characterize plunging breakers. The other scenarios describe different breaker styles. A wave meeting a sloping bottom tends to spill its energy down the face rather than curl, producing a spilling breaker. Very steep beaches cause waves to break directly on the SAMPLEshore in a beach break. Waves that travel long distances without breaking are non-breaking.

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