Waves From earthquake to tsunami and beyond What

Waves From earthquake to tsunami and beyond

What is a wave? • movement of energy from one place to another

How do waves work? • Wind energy and ocean currents push water molecules • Water molecules “oscillate” around their home location

How are waves measured? • WAVELENGTH: distance between crests

How are waves measured? FREQUENCY: number of waves per second

How are waves measured? 5130 meters/sec 1533 meters/sec 343 meters/sec Wave speed is determined by what the wave is moving through. animation

How are waves measured? Wave energy or magnitude : • AMPLITUDE: maximum disturbance of the medium

What causes low amplitude (small) waves? • Weak wind causes low wave energy. • Interference and friction change wave energy to heat.

What causes high amplitude (large) waves? • Strong wind creates high wave energy. • Waves can collide and combine. • This large wave can travel the world.

Tsunami • An underwater earthquake at a subduction zone. • The upward moving plate transfers energy to the water. • Wave energy then moves through the water. • The wave accumulates energy as it comes to shore. See animation>> The earthquake that generated the tsunami in the Indian Ocean December 26, 2004, was a 9. 0 on the Richter scale -- one of the biggest in recorded history

Tsunami Facts 500 mph! Slower when they reach shore 100 miles between crests 1000 feet deep! Wave height 90 -100 ft (If this class were on the 7 th floor)

Rogue Waves Rare photographs of rogue waves (also called Freak waves or Monster waves) Not caused by earthquake, like Tsunami. Caused by constructive interference and diffraction where waves add together. more facts about rogue waves