Chapter 8 Flashcards
(45 cards)
Ocean waves
movement of air across the ocean surface
Atmospheric waves
movement of different air masses represented by ripple-like clouds in the sky
Internal waves
waves traveling along the boundary between waters of different density, they are associated with a pycnocline
Splash waves
Mass movement into the ocean
Seismic sea waves
Underwater uplifts or down dropping of large areas of the sea floor
Wake
The wave left behind by a boa passing over the ocean
Longitudinal waves
Particles that vibrate in the same direction that the energy is traveling
Transverse waves
The energy moving at right angles to the direction of the vibrating particles
Orbital wave
The movement of particles in ocean waves involving components of both longitudinal and transverse waves
Crests
High parts of the wave
Troughs
low parts of the waves
still water level
Halfway between the crest and the trough, where the water would be if there was no wave
Wavelength
Horizontal distance between crests and troughs
Wave steepness
Ratio of wave heigh to wavelength, if ratio is steeper than 1/7 it is too steep
Wave period
The time it takes for a full wave to pass a fixed position
Frequency
Number of wave crests passing a fixed location per unit of time
Circular orbital motion
Movement of water passing along energy by moving in a circle, objects in waves moves up and backwards then forwards and then down and backward
Wave base
Depth of the circular orbital, 1/2 the wavelength measured from still water level
Deep water waves
If the water depth is greater than the wave base
Wave speed
Rate at which a wave travels, wavelength divided by period
Shallow water waves
depth is less than 1.20 of the wavelength
Transitional waves
waves that have characteristics of shallow water waves and deep water waves
Capillary waves
small, rounded waves
Gravity waves
Rougher waves that have wavelengths greater than .7 inches
