The Movement Of Ocean Water Chapter Study Guide

Tidal range refers to the difference in height between high tide and low tide. During a spring tide, the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon align, resulting in a higher tidal range. This occurs during the new moon and full moon phases. In contrast, during a neap tide, the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon counteract each other, resulting in a lower tidal range. Therefore, the tidal range is greatest during a spring tide.

Whitecaps are formed when wind blows across the surface of the water, causing the waves to become steeper and eventually break. This breaking of waves, known as whitecaps, typically occurs in the open ocean where the wind has a longer distance to act on the water and create larger waves. In contrast, in the surf or breaker zone closer to the shore, the waves are usually already breaking and whitecaps are less common. Therefore, the correct answer is "in the open ocean".

Deep currents form when salinity increases. This is because an increase in salinity makes the water denser, causing it to sink and flow towards the bottom of the ocean. As the denser water sinks, it creates a current known as a deep current. These deep currents play a crucial role in the ocean's circulation and help transport heat and nutrients around the globe.

El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of the Pacific Ocean, which can have significant impacts on weather patterns worldwide. During El Niño events, the normal trade winds weaken, leading to reduced rainfall in Indonesia and Australia. This decrease in precipitation can result in drought conditions in these regions. El Niño does not directly cause earthquakes or upwelling off the coast of South America, nor does it specifically lead to droughts in the southern half of the United States.

As waves approach the shore, their wave height increases. This occurs because the bottom of the wave begins to interact with the ocean floor, causing the wave to slow down. However, the wave's energy remains constant, so as the wave slows down, the energy becomes concentrated in a smaller space, resulting in an increase in wave height. Therefore, as waves come near the shore, their wave height increases.

The tides alternate between high and low because the moon revolves around the Earth at a much slower speed than the Earth rotates. This slower speed allows the gravitational pull of the moon to affect different parts of the Earth's oceans, causing the tides to rise and fall.