Alexander M., Anthony M., Michelle K. and Matthew G.
What Causes Waves What Causes Waves?
Waves are caused by winds that cross over the ocean, the friction between the wind and water causes ripples.
As the ripples catch more wind the waves become bigger and bigger. But the wind has to continue to blow to keep the waves going.
Waves
Waves can change the sea level across the ocean.
So to get the sea back to normal the wave will move across the ocean too the lowest point, this is called a Swell.
Even though waves look as though there moving horizontally, they are actually moving up and down.
Waves dont represent which way the water is flowing.
Types of Waves
Storm waves- are just larger waves then what hit up against the shore, they are caused by massive wind storms during hurricanes. They more dangerous in the open ocean because they tend to die out before they hit the shore. The biggest storm wave to date was measured at 60 feet high.
Storm surge- this is when a bad hurricane or winter storm in the north east smashes into the land, piling water upon the shower raising the leave of the sea. They last as long as the storm does. When these waves occur because of hurricanes 9 out of 10 deaths happen as a result of these waves.
Freak Ocean Waves- these occur when the ocean is calm and a ship gets blind sided buy a freak wave up to 30 feet high. No one is sure how these waves are formed and they dont do much damage to the shore.
Tsunamis- these aren't like other waves, they are caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the water. They can reach heights of 70 feet high and can have a top speed of 800 miles per-hour. These are the most destructive of all the waves.
Waves Parts
Still-water line- this is the level part of the ocean when there are no waves.
Crest- the highest part of the wave that is above the still-water line.
Trough- this is the lowest point of the wave below the still- water line.
Wave height- the vertical height from the crest to the trough.
Wave length- the waves horizontal distance from the crest to the trough.
Amplitude- this equals one-half of the wave height either from the crest or trough to the water line.
*There is a picture showing this on one of the links provide below *
Waves Energy
There are only two places in the U.S. that produce enough tidal force to create tidal power. These places are Maine and Alaska.
Thermal energy that is produced by waves is limited to Hawaii and a small portion of the Atlantic coast.
For the highest wave potential you would have to go to the northern coast of California.
Tsunamis
These waves are rare but we get hit with 6 major Tsunamis every century.
Tsunamis are caused by under water earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or even asteroids and meteoroids smashing into the water.
For an under water earthquake to cause a Tsunami it has to be higher then a 6.75 on the ricter scale, and most occur in the pacific.
The word Tsunami is Japanese meaning, TSU= harbor and NAMI= wave
Wave Damage to Land
Even wind generated waves cause more damage than may be noticed.
In areas where waves continue to hit time after time, they can ware away at the rocks and beaches.
In the United States waves are taking their toll on Cape Cod, eating almost 3 feet of land per year.
