Question 1

10 / 10 pts

List and explain the three factors that affect the growth & development of wind waves. 

Note: I'm not asking about breakers or surf. I want you to explain how large open-water waves form. 

Your Answer:

Three factors that affect the growth of wind waves are  First, the wind speed must be blowing faster than the transfer of energy from wave crest to wave crest. The second factor is the amount of time the wind blows, or wind duration. The third factor is the fetch, the uninterrupted distance over the sea for which the wind blows without a change in direction.  In the Solent, for instance, the fetch is limited by the surrounding coast of the mainland and the Isle of Wight and is rarely more than 10 miles. At sea it can be thousands of miles. Ocean waves form by wind. The longer and stronger the wind blows, the larger the size of the wave will be. There are two types of waves; wind waves and swell waves. Wind waves are usually produced by nearby storms and travel only a short distance making the wave very weak. Swell waves are produced from storms and travel a long distance past its point of origin. The longer a wave travels uninterrupted, the larger, faster and more powerful the wave will become. Waves with a high period or time it takes for a wave to travel a certain distance will have much more power than those with a low period.

 

 

Question 2

5 / 10 pts

What is a rip current, and how do you get out of a rip current if you are caught in one?

Note: Explain in your own words based on what you learned in video episode 13. 

Your Answer:

You get out of the rip current by relax, rip current don't pull you under, don't swim the current.  You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach. You may be able to escape by floating or treading water if the current circulates back toward shore,  If you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself. If you need help, yell and wave for assistance.

 

Question 3

0 / 15 pts

Suppose the following:

You are conducting a research study of organisms that live in tide pools along a rocky coastline. In order to conduct your observations correctly you need the be able to see the organisms during the lowest tide possible, so that they are exposed the most and for the longest period of time. 

You are trying to decide when to go to your research site.  You do not have access to a tide calendar/chart, but you do know that the moon is currently HALF FULL ( it is currently a quarter moon).

QUESTION: Should you  plan on going to your research site that day, or should you postpone your research to another day during the month?

Explain why or why not,  and when would be the BEST time to go conduct your research .

 

Your Answer:

Tidepools are only visible at low tide. When the water recedes at low tide rocks are revealed with pools of ocean water trapped along the shoreline. Peek inside and you will find a thriving habitat filled with many living organisms. The best low tides are negative low tides. During the spring the negative low tides are usually in the early morning whereas in the late fall and winter the negative low tides are in the afternoon, visiting the tidepools on a day with a low tide of 1.5 ft. or less. You should also arrive about an hour before low tide so that you have ample time to explore while the tide is still receding.