Ocean Ocean MovementsMovements

Wave:Wave:

A rhythmic movement in which energy is carried through water.

Wave Height is determined by:Wave Height is determined by:

Wind speedWind speed

Wind durationWind duration

Fetch Fetch The amount of water that wind The amount of water that wind

blows acrossblows across

Breakers:Breakers:

•Crest out running the trough of the wave

•Friction slows the bottom of the wave as it comes in to shore

TidesTides

•The rise and fall of sea level

•Huge waves

Spring Tides and Neap TidesSpring Tides and Neap Tides

Bay of Fundy Bay of Fundy

Highest high tides in the worldHighest high tides in the world

Location: North of New York

Bay of Fundy – Reversing Bay of Fundy – Reversing FallsFalls

Reversing FallsReversing Falls

Power from ocean Power from ocean movementmovement

Density Currents or Density Currents or Thermohaline CirculationThermohaline Circulation

Density CurrentsDensity Currents

Thermohaline CirculationThermohaline Circulation

Wind PatternsWind Patterns

Surface Currents (Winds)Surface Currents (Winds)

GyresGyresOcean currents are influenced by the Ocean currents are influenced by the continental masses around the three oceanic continental masses around the three oceanic basins. Continents cause these currents to basins. Continents cause these currents to develop a circular pattern.develop a circular pattern.

El NinEl Ninoo

Spanish for child (comes around Spanish for child (comes around Christmas time)Christmas time)

Causes droughts in places that Causes droughts in places that usually have rainusually have rain

Causes floods in places that are Causes floods in places that are usually dryusually dry

Starves ocean life by discontinuing Starves ocean life by discontinuing upwellingsupwellings

Happens every 2 – 7 yearsHappens every 2 – 7 years

Upwelling:

•Upward movement of ocean water

•Driven by winds pushing against surface water

•Cold deep water is pulled up off the ocean floor

•Nutrient rich – this feeds ocean life

Normal Conditions El Nino Conditions

La Nina Conditions

National Geographic: El National Geographic: El NinoNino

October 29, 2009October 29, 2009 Here's the good - and bad - Here's the good - and bad -

news: El Niño strengthensnews: El Niño strengthens> Posted by Ken Kaye on > Posted by Ken Kaye on October 29, 2009 06:00 AMOctober 29, 2009 06:00 AM

El Niño has grown to moderate El Niño has grown to moderate strength, weather experts report.strength, weather experts report.

That's good news, as those of us who That's good news, as those of us who live in hurricane vulnerable areas live in hurricane vulnerable areas well know.well know.

El Niño, an abnormal warming of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, suppresses tropical storm formation – and there’s still more than a month to go before the end of hurricane season.As winter sets in, a strengthening El Niño might not be great news for the Southeast, as it is expected to produce wetter and colder conditions than normal.As we reported earlier, it also could spawn severe weather, including tornadoes. The National Weather Service in Miami will hold a press conference today to expound on that.In the meantime, I’m guessing most are grateful to El Niño for the quiet storm season thus far.