Question 982Navigation General

The correct answer is C) Spilling. A flat underwater beach slope indicates that the waves will gradually lose energy as they approach the shore, resulting in spilling breakers. Spilling breakers are characterized by the wave crest gently curling over and breaking down the face of the wave, rather than abruptly plunging or surging. This is the expected wave type for a gradually sloping beach bottom, as the waves have sufficient distance to dissipate their energy before reaching the shoreline. The other options are incorrect because: A) Surging breakers occur on very steep beach slopes, B) Plunging breakers occur on steeper intermediate beach slopes, and D) Converging breakers are not directly related to beach slope but rather to the shape of the shoreline.