Ocean Waves Flashcard

Front

What is a current?

Back

A current is a large stream of moving water that flows through the ocean.

Front

What is a tide?

Back

A tide is the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun.

Front

What is a wave?

Back

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy through water, typically seen as a rise and fall of the water surface.

Front

What is a crest?

Back

The crest is the highest point of a wave.

Front

What is a trough?

Back

The trough is the lowest point of a wave.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs in a wave.

Front

What is wave height?

Back

Wave height is the vertical distance between the crest and the trough of a wave.

Front

What is a spring tide?

Back

A spring tide occurs when the sun, moon, and earth are aligned, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides.

Front

What is a neap tide?

Back

A neap tide occurs when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides.

Front

What is the Gulf Stream?

Back

The Gulf Stream is a warm surface ocean current in the North Atlantic Ocean.