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Ocean surface wave - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Area, Arise, Border, Boundary, Circumference, Clerestory, Come, Concrete, Continuum, Cortex, Cortical |
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Ocean surface waves are surface waves at the surface of an ocean. That is, a wave that is guided along the interface between water and air. As the wind blows, it "pushes" the ocean water ahead of it. The wind actually transfers some of its energy into the water. The water is able to gain energy from the wind because of the friction between the wind and the water. This causes the surface particles to move in circular motion, which is a combination of longitudinal and transverse wave motions. The particle motion will appear to be clockwise when viewed such that the direction of wave propogation is to the right.
As the depth into the ocean increases, the radius of the circular motion decreases. However individual "freak waves" (also "rogue waves", "monster waves") sometimes occur in the ocean, often as high as 30 meters. Such waves are distinct from tsunamis that are caused by underwater earthquakes and manifest themselves only near the shore.
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