Marine Science- Ocean Waves
1. Explain the movement of water molecules within a wave.
The water molecules move in circles that get smaller with depth. They end up stopping all together.
2. What do waves transmit across the sea?
Waves transmit energy across the sea.
The water molecules move in circles that get smaller with depth. They end up stopping all together.
2. What do waves transmit across the sea?
Waves transmit energy across the sea.
3. Explain wave anatomy.
The highest part of the wave is called the crest and the lowest part is the trough. The distance between the crest and the trough is called the wave height, and the distance between two crests or troughs is called wavelengh.
The highest part of the wave is called the crest and the lowest part is the trough. The distance between the crest and the trough is called the wave height, and the distance between two crests or troughs is called wavelengh.
4. What are most waves generated by? Explain.
Most waves are generated by wind. Wind causes ripples in the water, which causes the wind to have something to push. These waves grow bigger and bigger.
5. When do waves reach their maximum size?
Waves reach their maximum size when they reach the speed of the wind.
6. Where are the largest waves on earth found? Why?
The largest waves on earth are found where wind blows steadily across miles of open sea. This is because there is no islands to stop the winds.
7. What is a wave train? What happens when there is interference of wave trains?
A wave train is a group of wind-driven waves. If there is an interference of wave trains, it causes the sea to become irregular.
8. What is a rouge wave? How are they created? How big can they get?
A rouge wave is a large wave. They are created by the interaction of wave trains and currents. Rouge waves can reach up to 100 feet.
9. What happens to waves in shallow water? Explain.
Waves in shallow water slow down and decrease in wavelength. Due to the friction between the lower water molecules causes this change. Energy in the wave can't move downward, and instead moves upwards, which increases the wave height.
10. What is swash? What does it do? How is it involved in erosion?
Swash is the foaming sheets of water after a wave crashes down. It carries sand and other things back to the ocean. Swash erodes the coast and causes strong currents.
11. What is a tsunami? Explain how they are different than wave generated waves.
A tsunami is a powerful and the largest wave. They are different than wave generated waves by being not noticable in the deep ocean. These waves go as fast as a jet.
12. What are some of the causes of tsunamis? Explain.
The causes of a tsunami is underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, asteroids falling into the sea. However, most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. The earthquake displaces water and the water rushes away from the earthquake. Rather than having a thin layer of the water column interact, a tsunami uses the entire wave column. When put in shallow water, the tsunami can reach up to 100 feet.
Most waves are generated by wind. Wind causes ripples in the water, which causes the wind to have something to push. These waves grow bigger and bigger.
5. When do waves reach their maximum size?
Waves reach their maximum size when they reach the speed of the wind.
6. Where are the largest waves on earth found? Why?
The largest waves on earth are found where wind blows steadily across miles of open sea. This is because there is no islands to stop the winds.
7. What is a wave train? What happens when there is interference of wave trains?
A wave train is a group of wind-driven waves. If there is an interference of wave trains, it causes the sea to become irregular.
8. What is a rouge wave? How are they created? How big can they get?
A rouge wave is a large wave. They are created by the interaction of wave trains and currents. Rouge waves can reach up to 100 feet.
9. What happens to waves in shallow water? Explain.
Waves in shallow water slow down and decrease in wavelength. Due to the friction between the lower water molecules causes this change. Energy in the wave can't move downward, and instead moves upwards, which increases the wave height.
10. What is swash? What does it do? How is it involved in erosion?
Swash is the foaming sheets of water after a wave crashes down. It carries sand and other things back to the ocean. Swash erodes the coast and causes strong currents.
11. What is a tsunami? Explain how they are different than wave generated waves.
A tsunami is a powerful and the largest wave. They are different than wave generated waves by being not noticable in the deep ocean. These waves go as fast as a jet.
12. What are some of the causes of tsunamis? Explain.
The causes of a tsunami is underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, asteroids falling into the sea. However, most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes. The earthquake displaces water and the water rushes away from the earthquake. Rather than having a thin layer of the water column interact, a tsunami uses the entire wave column. When put in shallow water, the tsunami can reach up to 100 feet.
Global Impact
1. How can we generate electricity from wave power? Explain.
We can generate electricity from wave power by having the up and down movement rotate turbines. Since waves are free and non polluting, it is a good idea.
2. How much possible electricity could wave power generate?
Wave power could generate two times the electricity the world currently consumes.
3. How many people have been killed by tsunamis?
1 million people have been killed by tsunamis.
4. What can be done about tsunamis to help protect people and property?
To protect people and property, many governments are installing warning systems and rebuilding costal barriers for tsunamis.
We can generate electricity from wave power by having the up and down movement rotate turbines. Since waves are free and non polluting, it is a good idea.
2. How much possible electricity could wave power generate?
Wave power could generate two times the electricity the world currently consumes.
3. How many people have been killed by tsunamis?
1 million people have been killed by tsunamis.
4. What can be done about tsunamis to help protect people and property?
To protect people and property, many governments are installing warning systems and rebuilding costal barriers for tsunamis.
DO: Activities: Breaking Waves
Tsunami Warning Systems
1. Describe the different types of warning systems that are in place for tsunamis (including animals, people and instincts).
The different types of warning systems are waves pulling away from the shore. If you can see the fish flopping about when the waves pull away, it's a sign of a tsunami. Another sign is when animals move to high ground. Animals have an acute sense of hearing, thus causing them to hear the earthquake strike. The last sign is your instincts. The Onge tribe in the Andaman Islands saw how the creek ran dry and the ocean pulling away from the shore. The Onge believed evil spirits were at work and ran inland.
1. Describe the different types of warning systems that are in place for tsunamis (including animals, people and instincts).
The different types of warning systems are waves pulling away from the shore. If you can see the fish flopping about when the waves pull away, it's a sign of a tsunami. Another sign is when animals move to high ground. Animals have an acute sense of hearing, thus causing them to hear the earthquake strike. The last sign is your instincts. The Onge tribe in the Andaman Islands saw how the creek ran dry and the ocean pulling away from the shore. The Onge believed evil spirits were at work and ran inland.