Ocean Water: Miscellaneous Info
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Transcript of Ocean Water: Miscellaneous Info
Ocean Water: Miscellaneous
Info
Shoreline Features
• Barrier Islands are narrow sandbars that are parallel to, but separate from the coast
• About 300 barrier islands along US coast• Islands are about 10-100 miles off coast– Ex: Outer Banks of North Carolina– Ex: Cape Cod, Massachusetts– Padre Island, Texas
• Between the mainland and barrier islands you would find estuaries, bays, and lagoons– Estuaries are partially enclosed
bodies of water where salt water mixes with freshwater
– Lagoons are shallow, salty bodies of water• Note: all of these areas are
excellent breeding grounds for many animals since they are salty but protected from harsh waves/currents due to barrier islands
Now, let’s talk HURRICANES
• Hurricanes are whirling tropical cyclones (low pressure/rotate counterclockwise)
In other parts of the world, these storms are called typhoons, cyclones, and tropical cyclones
• Hurricanes that hit the east coast originate in the equatorial waters near Africa
Someone, please remind me…WHY?
Saffir-Simpson Scale is used to measure a hurricane’s intensity
Lifecycle of a Hurricane1. Tropical Depression – wind speeds less or equal to
38 mph2. Tropical Storms – wind speeds 39-73 mph3. Hurricane – wind speeds greater than 74 mph
• Once they reach Tropical Storm status, cyclones are named
Hurricane Katrina Storm Surge
Ocean Structure