Figure 15. Ocean swells break on Mile Beach near Griffith Head (out of view to the left). The waves approach the beach at a small angle, shoal, rise to a breaking point, and then spill as a plunging breaker. In this example, the wave breaks from left to right in the photo so it would generate a longshore drift to the southwest away from Griffith Head toward Todds Point. Photo taken by S. M. Dickson, Maine Geological Survey, 1990.

---

Last updated on October 6, 2005

Maine.gov | Department of Conservation | Bureau Home | Site Policies