Waves and Currents Vocabulary

Front

Highest point of a wave

Back

Crest

Front

A mass of moving ocean water

Back

Ocean Current

Front

The vertical movement of deep water up to the surface

Back

Upwelling

Front

A property of matter representing mass per volume

Back

Density

Front

The movement of water from the surface to greater depths

Back

Downwelling

Front

The overall direction and movement of water as waves strike the shore at an angle

Back

Longshore Current

Front

Narrow streams of water that break through sandbars and drain rapidly back to sea.

Back

Rip Current

Front

Lowest point of a wave

Back

Trough

Front

The vertical distance between the crest and the trough

Back

Wave Height

Front

Horizontal distance between two crests or two troughs

Back

Wavelength