Slow motion ocean wave

Ocean waves are a ubiquitous part of coastal landscapes and beach vacations. But have you ever paused to ponder where a wave originates, how far it travels, or why it forms in the first place?
A wave forms whenever energy passes through a body of water, thereby causing the water to move in a circular motion. While any number of events—including hurricanes, full moons, and earthquakes—can transfer kinetic, or motion-generated, energy onto water, it’s the wind that’s most often to blame. The type of wave that’s created depends on which of the above events initiates the wave action.