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Helgers, ESC 101
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Earth’s Atmosphere Earth’s Atmosphere and Oceansand Oceans
Currents, Waves and Currents, Waves and CoastlinesCoastlines
Ocean Currents: Ocean Currents: the motions of oceans the motions of oceans (sorry, couldn’t resist the bad rhyme!)(sorry, couldn’t resist the bad rhyme!)
• Causes:Causes:– Tides – gravitational pull from moon and Tides – gravitational pull from moon and
sun causes predictable tidal currentssun causes predictable tidal currents
– Wind – Surface CurrentsWind – Surface Currents
– Thermohaline Circulation (density Thermohaline Circulation (density differences) = Deep Currentsdifferences) = Deep Currents
Surface CurrentsSurface Currents
• Rotate due to CoriolisRotate due to Coriolis
• Create Gyres –circles of moving Create Gyres –circles of moving water within the oceanswater within the oceans– Clockwise – Northern HemisphereClockwise – Northern Hemisphere– Counterclockwise – Southern Counterclockwise – Southern
HemisphereHemisphere
Gyres and Surface CurrentsGyres and Surface Currents
UpwellingUpwelling
• formation of upwellingformation of upwelling
What is upwelling?What is upwelling?
• Subsurface water rises to surfaceSubsurface water rises to surface
• Characteristics:Characteristics:– ColderColder– Rich in nutrientsRich in nutrients– Biologically productive = Good fishingBiologically productive = Good fishing
Major Areas of UpwellingMajor Areas of Upwelling
Global Conveyor beltGlobal Conveyor beltThermohaline Circulation Thermohaline Circulation BeginsBegins
• Surface and Deep Ocean CurrentsSurface and Deep Ocean Currents
Idealized “conveyor Idealized “conveyor belt” model of ocean belt” model of ocean circulationcirculation
Ocean WavesOcean Waves• What makes big waves?What makes big waves?
– Wind – speed and durationWind – speed and duration– Fetch – distance that a wave has to growFetch – distance that a wave has to grow
Breaking WavesBreaking Waves
• Friction between sea floor and waterFriction between sea floor and water
• Waves become too steepWaves become too steep
• Breakers formBreakers form
The basic parts and The basic parts and movement of a non-movement of a non-breaking wavebreaking wave
Changes that occur Changes that occur when a wave moves when a wave moves onto shoreonto shore
Beach Beach Construction/DestructionConstruction/Destruction• Swash and Swash and
BackwashBackwash
Wave refraction along Wave refraction along an irregular coastlinean irregular coastline
Beach drift and Beach drift and longshore currentslongshore currents
Example of Longshore Drift Example of Longshore Drift Shoreline ErosionShoreline Erosion
– Tucker Island Lighthouse, NJ, 1927Tucker Island Lighthouse, NJ, 1927
Rip CurrentsRip Currents
• Rip CurrentsRip Currents
Coastal Erosion CausesCoastal Erosion Causes
• Storm wavesStorm waves
• Long shore driftLong shore drift
• Storm surgeStorm surge
• Winter stormsWinter storms
• Human-Induced CausesHuman-Induced Causes
Human-Induced Coastal Human-Induced Coastal ErosionErosion
• Removing vegetation and protective Removing vegetation and protective dunesdunes
• Building “protective” structuresBuilding “protective” structures
• River modification and dredgingRiver modification and dredging
JettiesJetties
Which direction is longshore Which direction is longshore drift?drift?
Which direction is the longshore Which direction is the longshore drift?drift?
SummerSummer – – The lower waves of summer build The lower waves of summer build sand onshore and widen the sand onshore and widen the beach.beach.
WinterWinter - - Higher winter waves Higher winter waves move sand offshore and narrow move sand offshore and narrow the beach.the beach.
Dune StabilizationDune Stabilization
COASTAL EROSIONCOASTAL EROSION
Marine TerracesMarine Terraces
Sea archSea arch
Sea stackSea stack
Coastal DepositionCoastal Deposition
SpitSpit
Baymouth BarBaymouth Bar
Aerial view of a spit Aerial view of a spit and baymouth bar and baymouth bar along the along the Massachusetts Massachusetts coastlinecoastline
Barrier IslandsBarrier Islands
• Long, narrow islands paralleling Long, narrow islands paralleling shorelineshoreline
• Protected salt water bays behindProtected salt water bays behind
• Protect mainland Protect mainland
• Naturally transientNaturally transient
Fire Island migrationFire Island migration
Miami Beach before Miami Beach before beach nourishmentbeach nourishment
Miami Beach after Miami Beach after beach nourishmentbeach nourishment
EstuariesEstuaries
Major Major estuaries estuaries along the along the East Coast East Coast of the of the United United StatesStates
The EndThe End
TomboloTombolo
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