Question: what determine the characteristics of waves?
Answer: Crest = Highest point of the wave.
Trough = Lowest point of the wave.
Wavelength = Distance from one crest/trough to the next (m)
Wave Height = Height from trough to crest (m)
Wave steepness = ratio of wave height to wavelength.
Amplitude = distance from the centre of wave to the bottom of the trough (m)