Which term is defined as the distance wind blows across water?

• A. Wave Height Factors
• B. Fetch
• C. Wave Period
• D. Destructive Interference

Answer: (B)

Fetch is the distance wind blows across open water. This distance matters because energy from the wind transfers to the water to create waves, and the longer the wind can blow over a continuous stretch of water, the more energy can be put into the waves. That means a long fetch tends to produce larger, more developed waves, while a short fetch limits growth and results in smaller, choppier seas. For kayak planning, understanding fetch helps you anticipate what kind of waves to expect based on coastline shape and exposure. Destructive interference is when waves cancel each other, and wave period is about the time between crests, not how far the wind travels across the water.