Surf’s up!

Introduction

·   Waves have mysteriously stopped hitting the west coast in California, leaving the Pacific Ocean looking like a giant lake. Beachgoers are bemoaning the loss as they stand at the shore wishing the ocean would toss up those pearly whitecaps that are so fun to ride in. Your mission is to discover what happened to all the waves.

Task

·   In a small group of 4-5, you will research different factors that help generate and form ocean waves that make fun surf (i.e.: wind, tide, ocean bottom, swell direction, period). Write a 1-2 page report that explains what these different factors are and how they work together to make a fun day at the beach.

·   Then, in your group, put together a poster with images and graphics that show the process of wave generation in the ocean and completion at the beach. (If you want, and if technology permits, you may do this part as a powerpoint presentation).

Process

·   To begin researching how ocean waves are generated, watch this video on wave basics. Then go to this site and read about the details of wave generation. You will use this information to help write your paper. Feel free to search the web for other pieces of information that will help you. You may also want to search the web to find images and graphics for your presentation.

·   In order to complete your mission, you need to explain why the waves have stopped hitting the west coast. Also, look at this site and this one to forecast what the surf will be for the next week and where the waves are coming from.

Evaluation

·   You will be evaluated on the quality of your writing and the content. Do not simply copy the information from the websites. Describe wave generation in your own words based upon what you have read.

·   Your poster must clearly demonstrate how waves are generated.

Conclusion

·   Now you know how to describe a wave and how ocean waves are generated. Go shake a string and become a wave generator and throw rocks in a lake and become a wave generator.