Basal Surface of Forced Regression
Wave base is the water depth beneath which there is no wave movement. This depth has been determined to be half the distance between the crests of waves. Fairweather wave base refers to the depth beneath the average daily waves while storm wave base refers to the depth beneath storm driven waves and is often much deeper.
Storm wave base is an important boundary and can reach greater depths than might be expected if the fetch of the wind is extreme, as in the southern ocean offshore Australia. The diagram below high lights how storm wave base may even modifiy the tops of turbidites! Wave base is tied to the regressive surface of marine erosion associated with forced regressions and to storm deposits or tempestites.
