Figure 8.22 schematic drawing of a generated by displacement of the ocean floor. The speed of a wave corrrelates with ocean depth. Waves moving in deep water at speeds in excess of 800 kilometers per hour.
Speed gradually slows to 50 kilometers per hour at depths of 20 meters Decreasing depth slows the movement of the wave. As waves slow in shallow water, they grow in height until they topple and rush onto shore with tremendous force. The size and spacing of swells are not to scale