Marine Science- Ocean Waves
1: Explain the movement of water molecules within a wave
Waves transmit a disturbance / energy from one part of a material to another. The energy is transmitted without substantial movement of the material.
2: What do waves transmit across the sea?Waves are actually energy passing through the water, causing it to move in a circular motion.
3: Explain wave anatomy (make sure to label all parts)
1: Explain the movement of water molecules within a wave
Waves transmit a disturbance / energy from one part of a material to another. The energy is transmitted without substantial movement of the material.
2: What do waves transmit across the sea?Waves are actually energy passing through the water, causing it to move in a circular motion.
3: Explain wave anatomy (make sure to label all parts)
4: What are most waves generated by? Explain.
Wind energy is imparted to the sea surface through friction and pressure, causing waves.
5: When do waves reach their maximum size?
The max wave height is typically about 8 ft.
7: What is a wave train? What happens when there is interference of wave trains?
A group of waves of equal or similar wavelengths traveling in the same direction.
8: What is a rogue wave? How are they created? How big can they get?
They are relatively large and spontaneous ocean surface waves that occur far out at sea. They usually get around 23 ft high.
9: What happens to waves in shallow water? Explain.
When waves travel into areas of shallow water, they begin to be affected by the ocean bottom. As the water becomes shallower, the swell becomes higher and steeper, ultimately assuming the familiar sharp-crested wave shape.
10: What is swash? What does it do? How it is involved in erosion?
The rush of seawater up the beach after the breaking of a wave. Then when the wave leaves it remove sediment from the beach.
11: What is a tsunami? Explain how they are different than wind generated waves.
A long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance. Tsunamis are unlike wind-generated waves, which many of us may have observed on a local lake or at a coastal beach, in that they are characterized as shallow-water waves, with long periods and wave lengths. The wind-generated swell one sees at a California beach, for example, spawned by a storm out in the Pacific and rhythmically rolling in, one wave after another, might have a period of about 10 seconds and a wave length of 150 m. A tsunami, on the other hand, can have a wavelength in excess of 100 km and period on the order of one hour.
12: What are some of the causes of tsunamis? Explain.
Tsunamis occur most commonly because of underwater earthquakes but can also happen because of submarine volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides or a meteoric impact in the ocean.
Global Impact
1: How can we generate electricity from wave power? Explain.Wave energy is produced when electricity generators are placed on the surface of the ocean. Energy output is determined by wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and water density.
3: How many people have been killed by tsunamis?
Roughly 282,517
4: What can be done about tsunamis to help protect people and property?
There are now tsunami warnings to keep people safe from tsunamis.
Tsunami Warning Systems
1: Describe the different types of warning systems that are in place for tsunamis (including animals, people and instincts
Wind energy is imparted to the sea surface through friction and pressure, causing waves.
5: When do waves reach their maximum size?
The max wave height is typically about 8 ft.
7: What is a wave train? What happens when there is interference of wave trains?
A group of waves of equal or similar wavelengths traveling in the same direction.
8: What is a rogue wave? How are they created? How big can they get?
They are relatively large and spontaneous ocean surface waves that occur far out at sea. They usually get around 23 ft high.
9: What happens to waves in shallow water? Explain.
When waves travel into areas of shallow water, they begin to be affected by the ocean bottom. As the water becomes shallower, the swell becomes higher and steeper, ultimately assuming the familiar sharp-crested wave shape.
10: What is swash? What does it do? How it is involved in erosion?
The rush of seawater up the beach after the breaking of a wave. Then when the wave leaves it remove sediment from the beach.
11: What is a tsunami? Explain how they are different than wind generated waves.
A long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance. Tsunamis are unlike wind-generated waves, which many of us may have observed on a local lake or at a coastal beach, in that they are characterized as shallow-water waves, with long periods and wave lengths. The wind-generated swell one sees at a California beach, for example, spawned by a storm out in the Pacific and rhythmically rolling in, one wave after another, might have a period of about 10 seconds and a wave length of 150 m. A tsunami, on the other hand, can have a wavelength in excess of 100 km and period on the order of one hour.
12: What are some of the causes of tsunamis? Explain.
Tsunamis occur most commonly because of underwater earthquakes but can also happen because of submarine volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides or a meteoric impact in the ocean.
Global Impact
1: How can we generate electricity from wave power? Explain.Wave energy is produced when electricity generators are placed on the surface of the ocean. Energy output is determined by wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and water density.
3: How many people have been killed by tsunamis?
Roughly 282,517
4: What can be done about tsunamis to help protect people and property?
There are now tsunami warnings to keep people safe from tsunamis.
Tsunami Warning Systems
1: Describe the different types of warning systems that are in place for tsunamis (including animals, people and instincts