The document discusses how ocean water moves through waves, currents, and tides. Waves are caused by wind and carry energy along the surface, currents are flows caused by differences in temperature, salinity, winds or wave angles, and tides rise and fall daily due to the gravitational pull of the moon. Together, these factors transport water and influence shoreline erosion and deposition.

1. Oceans
How does ocean water
move?

2. Moving Water
• Most waves are caused by wind energy.
• Tides are caused by the force of gravity.
• Currents are caused by differences in salinity and
water temperature, by winds, and by the angle
of waves striking the shore.
• Waves, some currents, and tides act on the
features of the shoreline by causing erosion and
deposition.
• Deep ocean currents move water, but these
currents do not usually cause erosion at the
shore.

3. Waves
• Ocean waves occur close to shore and in the deep ocean.
• Ocean waves carry energy along the surface of the water.
• Waves are mostly caused by wind energy.
• In the deep ocean, waves cause water to rise and fall in a
circular motion (not forward).
• As waves move closer to the shore, the water through
which they are traveling gets shallower and tumble onto
the beach.
• Strong waves can cause tremendous erosion and
deposition when they reach the shore.

4. Currents
• A current is a flow of water in a larger body of
water.
• In the deep ocean, water flows up and down in
deep ocean currents. These currents occur
because of differences in water temperature or
salinity (amount of salt). These currents move
and mix the ocean water, taking nutrients from
the surface to living things below.
• Surface currents are mostly caused by the wind
moving over the ocean. These currents affect
climate by moving heat energy around the
Earth. Near the shore, these currents move
water and eroded beach materials in the
direction of the current’s flow.

5. Tides
• Tides are the daily rising and falling in a regular
of Earth’s waters.
• Tides change the water level at most coasts in
the world throughout the day.
• Tides are caused mainly by the Moon’s gravity.
The part of the Earth facing the moon and the
part opposite experience high tide (ex: E and
W). The other parts experience low tide at that
time (ex: N and S).
• Waves carry energy and cause water to tumble
onto the shore. At high tide waves hit the
highest and at low tide the lowest.