Book 30, Question 37 · Video
How can the Great Lakes get ocean-sized waves?
Waves grow when wind blows over a long stretch of open water, called the fetch. On the Great Lakes, the distance can be hundreds of miles, so a strong storm can raise waves as tall as a two-story house. They can behave in a short, steep, choppy way, which is hard for boats. Weather forecasts warn boaters, and beaches post flags when waves are dangerous.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How can the Great Lakes get ocean-sized waves?
The Big Idea
The Great Lakes can have huge waves! Some are as tall as a house. How?
Fetch
Step one: Fetch. Waves grow when wind blows over a long stretch of open water, called the fetch. The longer the fetch, the bigger the waves can get.
Hundreds of Miles
Step two: Hundreds of Miles. On the Great Lakes, the fetch can be hundreds of miles. A strong storm can raise waves as tall as a two-story house.
Choppy and Dangerous
Step three: Choppy and Dangerous. Great Lakes waves can be short, steep, and choppy, which is hard for boats. Weather forecasts warn boaters, and beaches post flags when waves are dangerous.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Blows. Open distance. Grow tall. Warn beachgoers.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Waves on the Great Lakes can reach 6 meters, or 20 feet, in big storms. Longer fetch, bigger waves. Choppy and steep. Flags warn swimmers.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Blow across a pan of water with a straw from close up. Watch the ripples. Now blow from farther away. Compare the ripples. Which made bigger ones?
Outro
Waves grow when wind blows over a long stretch of open water called the fetch. On the Great Lakes, that can be hundreds of miles, so storms can raise waves as tall as a two-story house, which is why forecasts and beach flags matter. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!