different types of waves
Types of Ocean Waves. There are different types of ocean waves. The waves we have been discussing so far are referred to as wind waves, or simply waves that are created by wind. These wind-driven waves begin as ripples, which are small and have the shortest period of time between successive wave crests.
While both types of waves are large, a tidal wave is a large wave caused by the tides. Because tides are predictable events that are created by the moon's gravitational pull, tidal waves, unlike tsunamis, are predictable events.