i live on the shore of lake michigan and was wandering why a lake would have currents, we have dangerous rip currents sometimes that cause many deaths if your not careful. i kind of thought this was limited to the seas and oceans.
2006-08-02 15:42:36 · 4 answers · asked by guitar_lady81 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The great lakes are like small oceans.
Currents are caused by tides, salinity differences, temperature differences, the rotation of the earth,
and geological features.
2006-08-02 15:48:26 · answer #1 · answered by helixburger 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Well, the wind moving the water along would create currents in any body of water. I live near a lake and it's a LOT smaller than Lake Michigan and it has currents. I would also venture to guess that it also has to do with the moon and the pull of it against the earth as in gravity.
2006-08-02 15:49:53 · answer #2 · answered by williampetersen7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
those are some good answers....but the temperature difference is the main cause of currents in a lake of that size. The wind however is usually the main cause of waves or "choppyness". rip currents however are usually a product of the underwater topography. They caused when there is a inconsistency in the sand bar or breaking bar. This break in this underwater hump allows the built up water of waves on shore to make it back out to deeper waters. The term rip current was created from the description of a rip in the sand bar.
2006-08-02 18:34:20 · answer #3 · answered by jollycrapper 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, in the ocean, currents are caused by different temperatures in the water. Lakes on the other hand are also affected by the flow from rivers that feed into it.
2006-08-02 15:49:49 · answer #4 · answered by Omega_Red9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋