1. Formation of waves

2. Wind causes most waves More wind = bigger waves Longer distances = bigger waves Video clip on winds and waves

3. Watch the water droplet move in a vertical circle as the wave passes. The droplet moves forward with the wave's crest and backward with the trough.*

4. Ocean Currents Deep currents are caused by differences in density because of salinity and temperature, and the shape of the ocean floor. Surface currents are caused by wind.

5. Surface currents are caused by wind. Surface currents near the equator are warm.

6. Because the Earth is spinning, the ocean water and wind trying to travel in a straight line from one place to another gets pulled off course. Coriolis Effect Also affects currents Don’t get it yet! More on the next slide!

7. Link to a Coriolis Effect animation part 2 Link to a Coriolis Effect animation Coriolis Effect Continued! Notice that the ball in the center of the disk is trying to roll toward the red dot. But because the disk is spinning under the ball, it never makes it to the red dot but is “deflected” to the side. http://en.wikipedia.org The top view is showing that the ball actually moves in a straight line. The bottom view is showing the path the ball took across the disk.

8. Video on ocean waves and currents The current that affects the eastern USA is the Gulf Stream! Florida Gulf Stream It is a “river” of warm water in the Atlantic Ocean!

9. Video clip on how currents affect weather and climate

10. Tides Tides are caused by the moon’s gravity pulling on the Earth’s water. Video clip on tides

11. How many high tides and low tides do we have each day? If you are at the beach and high tide is at 6:00am, about what time would low tide be? When would the next high tide be? Watch carefully! This is a view from above the North Pole. This is what is happening at the beach!

12. As the moon pulls on the Earth’s water, it rises and falls. Have you had a “tide” experience at the beach?