The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Taking Time to Live Well

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Photography: Alamy

Primer | Ocean Waves

Iona Bower February 14, 2023

Watching winter waves on a blustery beach is a surefire way to feel both calm and invigorated (and a little bit small in the universe). Let’s get to know them better. 

Whether we’re jumping over them, trouser legs rolled up, or scuttling away from them up the beach, we all love a wave. If you’ve ever found yourself saying something like “Goodness! That’s a big splashy one!” and would like to sound like more of a Wave Afficionado, however, here are a few scientific Wave Terms you can employ. There won’t be a vocab test but they are rather fun.

Crest The high point of a wave

Trough The low point of a wave

Height The distance between crest and trough

Amplitude The distance from either the crest or the trough to the still water line

Attenuation A reduction in amplitude

Frequency The number of waves occurring at a single point in a given period of time

Period The time between swell crests

Fetch How far the wave has travelled

Swash The movement of a wave up the beach

Backwash The movement of a wave down the beach

Shoaling The change in wave height as the wave moves up the beach

If this has inspired you to take more coastal winter walks, you might like to read our feature, ‘A Shore Thing’ in our February issue, which is in shops now.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our February issue…

Featured
Alamy Waves Outing.jpg
Feb 14, 2023
Primer | Ocean Waves
Feb 14, 2023
Feb 14, 2023
Coconut balls.JPG
Feb 11, 2023
Recipe | Coconut Kisses (Beijinhos de Coco)
Feb 11, 2023
Feb 11, 2023
Cinemas The Roxy.jpg
Feb 4, 2023
Outing | Quirky Cinemas
Feb 4, 2023
Feb 4, 2023

More Seaside Inspiration…

Featured
Necklace Shell.jpg
Aug 8, 2024
Nature studies | How spiral shells are made
Aug 8, 2024
Aug 8, 2024
Alamy Waves Outing.jpg
Feb 14, 2023
Primer | Ocean Waves
Feb 14, 2023
Feb 14, 2023
Seaweed pressing 2.jpg
Sep 4, 2022
Beachcombing | Things you can take home from the seaside
Sep 4, 2022
Sep 4, 2022
Inouting Tagsissue 128, waves, coastal, seaside, winter nature
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  Buy ,  download  or  subscribe   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Buy a copy of our latest anthology:  A Year of Celebrations   Buy a copy of  Flourish 2 , our wellbeing bookazine  Listen to  our podcast  - Small Ways to Live Well
Feb 27, 2025
Feb 27, 2025

Buy, download or subscribe

See the sample of our latest issue here

Buy a copy of our latest anthology: A Year of Celebrations

Buy a copy of Flourish 2, our wellbeing bookazine

Listen to our podcast - Small Ways to Live Well

Feb 27, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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