1. Waves Tides Currents
What’s the difference?

2. WaveS Definition: A form of energy moving through water
Created by energy being transferred from the wind through the water

3. Causes of waves Strength of the wind Length of time the wind blows
Distance over which the wind blows

4. Examples of waves: BREAKER WAVES AT THE BEACH
Surfers ride breaker waves to the beach.
(Microsoft Clip Art)

5. Waves during a storm During a Storm, waves can get very large and strong
(Microsoft Clip Art

6. Tsunami waves result from earthquakes releasing energy underwater
(Microsoft Clip Art)

7. Misc. Info about waves: Parts of a wave: Trough = bottom Crest = top
Wavelength = horizontal distance between crests
Wave Height = vertical distance between crest & trough

8. TIDes Definition: The rise and fall of Earth’s water on its coastlines
(Microsoft Clip Art)

9. Causes of tides: Gravitational pull of the SUN & MOON

10. Examples of Tide cycles:
Daily Tide Cycle:
HIGH & LOW –
2 times each day
12 hours apart

12. Examples of tide cycles:
Monthly Tide Cycle:
SPRING –
During Full & New Moons
Makes a straight line with the
sun, moon & earth

13. http://www. askaboutireland

14. Examples of Tide cycles:
Monthly Tide Cycles:
NEAP –
1st & 3rd Quarter Moons
Makes a 90° angle
“like a bent knee”

15. NEAP TIDES

16. Misc. info about tides:
If it’s low tide at 4 am, when will the next low tide occur? 4 pm (they happen 12 hours apart!)
Draw a picture of the Moon, Earth & Sun aligned during a SPRING TIDE:
Draw a picture of the Moon, Earth & Sun aligned during a NEAP TIDE:

17. Currents
Definition:
Large streams of water flowing through the oceans

18. Causes of currents:
Coriolis Effect
&
Temperature
Surface currents are driven by the wind.

19. Examples of currents:
Coriolis Effect – the spin of Earth on its axis makes winds & currents move:
Northern Hemisphere = clockwise current movement
Southern Hemisphere = counter clockwise current movement

20. Coriolis effect causes currents to move in specific directions

21. Temperature affects currents
Warm currents near the equator flow towards the poles,
Then cold, dense water flows back towards the equator, causing convection currents

22. Convection currents in the oceans

23. Misc. info. About currents:
RIP CURRENT – rush of water that flows rapidly back to sea through a narrow opening in a sandbar

24. Misc. Info About currents:
UPWELLING –
When wins blow warm water away, allowing cold water to rise & fill the space
Brings nutrients & fish towards the surface