When a beach is gone, the wave action will directly erode the shore inland. Beaches also have their own unique subzones, with plants adapted to these zones. These plants, such as dune grass, also help hold the beaches together and keep them from blowing away. Waves Other prime elements to notice here are swells, waves and surf. We have several national and international surfing contests here every year.
Waves are energy fronts generated far to sea by storms.
These energy waves travel through the deep ocean very fast. When they reach the up-sloping continental shelf, wave energy fronts start to lift into the swells curls that surfers ride. Waves at shore, here, are different in character than waves in the deep ocean. We experience them as regular sweeps or lines one after the other. They can come in groups or sets, but generally roll evenly, one after the other to the beach.