Which wind risk causes waves to break harder near shore?

• A. Funnel effect
• B. Venturi effect
• C. Headwind effect
• D. Onshore wind risk

Answer: (D)

Onshore wind risk is the best answer because when the wind blows from sea toward land, it continually adds energy to the waves as they move toward the shore. In shallow water, waves slow down and grow taller (shoaling), and the wind pushing on the waves makes them steepen even more. That combination causes waves to break earlier and with greater force right near the shore, creating bigger, more powerful shore-breaks.

The other ideas describe air-flow patterns that aren’t the primary cause of harsher nearshore breaking. Headwinds can roughen the surface, and funnel or Venturi effects relate to airflow through narrow passages, but they don’t explain why waves would break harder specifically as they reach the shore.