Final answer:
Wave refraction option (b)is responsible for concentrating wave energy onto the headlands of a coastline, leading to significant erosion in those areas while energy is dispersed in the bays.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wave refraction concentrates most of the energy of the waves onto the headlands of a coastline. This geophysical process is responsible for the bending of waves as they approach the shore at an angle. As waves move in shallow water near the coastline, their speed decreases, causing them to bend and align more closely with the underwater contours of the coastline.
The energy is then focused on the headlands, which are the points of land that jut out into the sea, while the energy is dispersed in the bays between the headlands. This concentration of energy can lead to significant erosion on the headlands.
Experts in coastal management use this understanding of wave refraction to help predict and mitigate erosion patterns and to design structures like breakwaters to protect vulnerable shorelines.
Knowledge of how waves interact with the coastline is crucial for assessing threats to coastal communities and for constructing defensive mechanisms to preserve these areas.