Aeroplane waves?

Question

I've always wondered, that when you are coming into land from the plane and you can see waves.. they look like they are not moving, but then when you come closer they are..

What is with this?

Answer 1

It's the same concept that makes the moon appear to follow you--things at a greater distance move relatively slower than things up close.  Think about it from your perspective on the ground.  An airplane at 35,000 feet is just crawling across the sky while one that is taking off right over your head is screaming.

Answer 2

The further away you are from a moving object the slower it appears to move. Look out of a car window at trees on the horizon and compare the apparent speed of tree next to the road.