Ocean Waves Flashcard

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

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

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

The crest is the highest point of a wave.

The trough is the lowest point of a wave.

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

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

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

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.

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