Waves

How do animals adapt to living in these zones?

- these animals need to avoid drying out - they have the ability to close themselves up into their shells as a shelter to prevent drying out or are mobile enough to take cover. Some can burrow under the sand. Seaweed has tough, leathery leaves that resist water loss.

Why does the moon have more tide generating force than the sun (even though the sun is much, much bigger)?

Because the moon is much closer to the Earth than the sun. Distance and not just size plays a factor in tide generating force.

Living conditions in the intertidal zones are difficult, yet most of it is abundantly populated. What are some of the benefits of intertidal living?

Food is plentiful here. There is less competition for food and space because less animals live here, due to the fact is is such a harsh place to live. Shallow waters transmit lots of sunlight for bottom-dwelling plants (who use it for photosynthesis).

The constant sinking and rising of ocean water creates the _____________________________________________________.

Great Ocean Conveyor Belt

The surface ocean current off the east coast of our country is the _____________ ______________.

Gulf Stream

Why does the distance from the Earth to the moon or the sun affect the tides?

How much tide generating force occurs will depend on the mass of an object and its distance away. As the distance between the Earth and moon and sun changes, the tidal force that each produces will vary. The closer the moon and sun are to the earth the more tide generating force that will occur. The farther away, the less tide generating force.

What does the conveyor belt do?

It moves warm waters from the equator and cold waters from the poles throughout the oceans.

What were the "Be a Captain" results? Why?

January because that is when perihelion occurs (when the sun is closest to the Earth) New Moon - because that is when the moon is aligned with the Earth and Sun (and is on the same side as the sun) Perigee - because that is when the moon is the closest to the Earth

The surface ocean current off the east coast of Japan is the biggest one and is called the ____________ _____________.

Kuroshio Current

How does the abundance and diversity change across the various intertidal zones?

Life is abundant and very diverse in the lower intertidal zones because they are usually covered by water a larger percentage of time. It becomes less diverse towards the upper intertidal zone. Both diversity and abundance are lowest in the spray zone.

Explain the time differences between the different tides? How much time passes between on high tide and the next? How much time passes between low tide and the next high tide?

Since the lunar day is 24 hours and 50 minutes and there are 2 tidal bulges in that time, high tides are spaced 12 hours and 25 minutes apart. High tides occur every 12 hours and 25 minutes and are separated by low tides. Low tides occur every 6 hours and 12.5 minutes after the high tide and before the next high tide.

When will solar tides be higher, at perihelion or aphelion? How often does this occur?

Solar tides will be higher at perihelion because this is when the sun is closest to the Earth. Aphelion is when the sun is the furthest from the Earth. Perihelion happens once a year because it takes the earth a year to complete an orbit around the sun.

What is the difference between spring and neap tides?

Spring tides occur when the sun and moon are aligned and their gravitational forces combine to cause the very highest and lowest tides. Neap tides occur when the sun and moon are at right angles and so the sea is being pulled from different directions which causes moderate high and low tides. Spring tides cause the very highest and lowest tides. Neap tides cause moderate high and low tides.

Describe how the physical stresses on life vary from the top of the intertidal zone to the bottom?

At the top of the intertidal zone, organisms spend more time exposed than under the water, so they will have to cope with extreme dryness and large temperature swings. Those problems will be less of an issue in the lower intertidal zone because of the protection provided by greater time under the water, but plants and animals will have to cope with being pounded by the waves.

Name the 4 tidal zones

1. Spray Zone 2. Upper Intertidal Zone - underwater only during high tide 3. Mid Intertidal Zone - mostly submerges except for brief periods once or twice a day during low tide 4. Low Intertidal Zone - only exposed to air during lowest spring tides

What other things influence the earth's tides?

1. When the sun and moon align, their gravitational forces combine causing the very highest and very lowest tides called spring tides. 2. When the sun and moon are at right angles they pull at the sea from different directions and moderate tides with smaller ranges form called neap tides.

When will low tide be if high tide crests at noon?

6:12:30 pm

What is the water rushing onto the beach called?

A wash or swash

What does the passing time between the tides depends on?

The length of a lunar day

How many spring tides and neap tides occur each month? Why?

There are 2 spring tides and 2 neap tides each month. The moon rotates around the earth once a month, so in that time it will be aligned with the sun twice and at 90 degrees to the sun twice.

How are tides formed?

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the Earth and the moon as well as to a smaller extent, the sun. When the Earth rotates it tugs seawater into 2 enormous bulges.

When will lunar tides be higher, at perigee or at apogee? How often does this occur?

Tides will be higher at perigee because this is when the moon is the closest to Earth. Perigee happens once a month because it takes the moon one month to orbit around the Earth. Apogee is when the moon is the farthest away from the Earth.

True or False: Tides also occur in large lakes, the atmosphere, and within the solid Earth.

True

What is the water returning to the ocean called?

backwash or undertow

How are waves formed?

by wind by earthquakes by meteors crashing in ocean

What does this affect?

climate

What are the measurable characteristics of a wave - label all the parts

crest - highest part of wave trough - lowest part of a wave wave height - vertical distance between crest and trough amplitude - half the distance of a wave height wavelength - distance from a certain point on crest or trough to that same point on the next crest or trough period - the amount of time it takes for succeeding crests to pass a specific point

What are ocean currents?

describe the movement of water from one location to another

The sea level rises or floods until it reaches it's highest normal point called __________ ____________.

high tide

What does the size of a wave depend on?

how long the wind blows strength of the wind distance the wind blows (how long, how strong, how far)

How are currents measured?

in meters per second or in knots (1 know = 1.15 miles per hour)

The sea level drops or ebbs to it's lowest point at __________ ___________.

low tide

What are the different types of waves?

ripples - formed when there is very little wind breakers or surf waves - formed when there is heavier wind tsunami or tidal waves - formed by displacement of the ocean floor due to earthquakes or displacement of huge body of water due to impact of a meteor crash

What is a tide?

the regular alternating rise and fall of the sea level

How long does it take water to go through this whole path?

thousands of years

What is the difference between high tide and low tide?

tidal range

What are the 3 main factors that drive ocean currents?

wind - Gulf Stream (surface ocean current off the east coast of our country) and Kuroshio Current (surface ocean current off the east coast of Japan - biggest one) thermohaline circulation - this happens when cold, salty water that is dense sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Wind on the surface of the water causes upwelling (vertical movement of water) that will bring this water back to the surface. Thermo means "heat" and haline means "salinity". rise and fall of tides - during high tide there is a flood current and during low tide there is a ebb current