The kinds of waves that are formed, depend on from where they are being influenced. Long, steady waves that flow endlessly against the beach are likely formed from storms and extreme weather conditions far away. The power of storms and their influence on the surface of the water is so powerful that it can cause waves on the shores of another hemisphere. For example, when Japan was hit with a massive tsunami in 2011, it created powerful waves on the coast of Hawaii and even as far as the beaches of the state of Washington. - See more at: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/WaveEnergy.php#sthash.eue88W6Y.dpuf