The Gulf Stream is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic Ocean current that originates

from the Gulf of Mexico and stretches out to the tip of Florida, and it follows the eastern

coastlines of the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

The Global Ocean Conveyor System is a constant motion in the ocean in the form of a

Global Ocean Conveyor Belt. This motion is due to the combination of thermohaline currents in

the deepest parts of the ocean combined with the wind-driven currents on the surface. Warm

water from the Gulf Stream heats the atmosphere in the northern latitudes. Then the loss of heat

to the atmosphere causes the water to cool and become denser making it sink to the bottom of the

ocean. As more of these warm water is transported up north the cooler water sinks and travels

south making room for the incoming warm water. The cold bottom water then flows south of the

equator to Antarctica. As time passes the cold bottom water returns to the surface continuing the

conveyor belt.

Tides are caused by the gravitational attraction from the moon which causes the oceans to

bulge out in the direction of the moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side due to the

Earth is also being pulled toward the moon.

The winds are the cause of the waves on the surface of the ocean and lakes. As wind

transfers its energy to the water the friction from the air molecules and the water molecules cause

waves to form. The amount of depth that is affected by a wave is dependent on the wave base

which is about half the wavelength.

While approaching the coastline waves break onto the beach due to it being slowed down

from coming in contact with the sea floor.