What are surface ocean disturbances generated by wind called?

What are surface ocean disturbances generated by wind called?

• A. Waves
• B. Tides
• C. Currents
• D. Ripples

Answer: (A)

Wind transfers energy to the ocean surface, pulling on the water and creating surface disturbances that travel as waves. These waves form when wind stress against the water builds crests and troughs that move across the sea. The other options describe different ocean phenomena: tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun; currents are the steady horizontal flows of water; ripples are smaller, finer surface patterns but not the general term for wind-generated surface disturbances. The size and strength of waves depend on factors like wind speed, how long the wind has blown, and the distance the wind has traveled over the water (fetch).

Wind transfers energy to the ocean surface, pulling on the water and creating surface disturbances that travel as waves. These waves form when wind stress against the water builds crests and troughs that move across the sea. The other options describe different ocean phenomena: tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun; currents are the steady horizontal flows of water; ripples are smaller, finer surface patterns but not the general term for wind-generated surface disturbances. The size and strength of waves depend on factors like wind speed, how long the wind has blown, and the distance the wind has traveled over the water (fetch).