As water waves transition from a deep region to a shallow region, several changes occur in their characteristics, including wavelength and speed. Here's what happens:
Wavelength: The wavelength of water waves decreases as they move from deep to shallow regions. The wavelength is the distance between two successive crests or troughs of a wave. In deeper water, the waves have a longer wavelength. However, as the water depth decreases, the wave encounters the bottom of the water body, causing the wave to "feel" the bottom and interact with it. This interaction leads to a decrease in wavelength.
Speed: The speed of water waves also changes as they move from deep to shallow regions. In general, the speed of water waves is proportional to the square root of the water depth. As the water becomes shallower, the speed of the waves decreases. This is because the energy of the wave is dispersed over a smaller depth, and the bottom of the water body affects the motion of the waves.
It's important to note that these changes in wavelength and speed occur due to the interaction of the waves with the varying water depth. Additionally, factors such as wave height, bottom topography, and wave-breaking can further influence the behavior of water waves in shallow regions.