Ocean+Currents,+Tides,+and+Waves

media type="file" key="Ocean Traits.3gp" width="340" height="340" align="center" Notice the red (warm current) and blue (cold current) arrows in the diagram above (Warm surface currents move from the equatorial regions to other areas of the earth- As warm water flows from the equator heat is released into the atmosphere, which influences climate) (Cold surface currents move from the opposite regions) =When speaking of water, the word //__**current**__// refers to the motion of the water = = =

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The water of the ocean surface that moves horizontally, parallel to the Earth's surface is called //__surface ocean currents__// ===== Surface ocean currents and surface winds are affected and form by what is called the //__Coriolis Effect__// // It is the shifting of winds and surface currents from their expected paths by the earth's rotation // media type="youtube" key="_36MiCUS1ro" height="204" width="253" align="center"

__**UPWELLING CURRENTS**__ happen where wind blows along a coastline causing the water at the ocean surface to move perpendicular to it, away from the coast, when surface water moves away from the coast, water from deeper in the ocean rises up and takes its place. The water that is moved up to the surface is usually cold and rich in nutrients, which come from the rotting bodies of dead sea creatures that sunk into deep water
 *  A __RIP CURRENT__ is a narrow, powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean **

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 * Rip currents are caused by the shape of the shoreline itself, and they may be sudden and unexpected **Rip currents move along the //__**surface**__// of the water, pulling you straight out into the ocean, but not underneath the water's surface ====


A rip current may knock you off your feet in shallow water, however, and if you thrash around and get disoriented, you may end up being pulled along the ocean bottom. But if you **relax your body**, the current should keep you near the surface.

A __DENSITY CURRENT__ is a when a mass of seawater either increases salinity or decreases in temperature,
becoming more dense and then sinking  

 **Tides** are the falling (low tide) and rising (high tide) of water levels in the ocean <span style="color: #ffa000; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">They are caused by the moon and sun's gravitational pull on the earth



<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">**__Waves__ are rhythmic movements that carries energy through matter**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;">Waves are formed when wind energy is transferred to the water **
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;"> (the larger the wave, the greater the wind speed) **

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">**A __breaker__ is a collapsing wave-** <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;">
 * <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;">As a wave approaches the shore wavelength //__decreases__// and wave height __//increases//__ **