Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
energy found in ocean
water. This can be done
in several ways. Close
to shore, the tides move
in and out twice a day.
Some areas have large
differences between the
height of the highest
and the lowest tides.
The rising and falling of
these tides can be used
to power turbines and
create electricity.
Ocean waves also
contain energy, called
wave energy. Different
systems are being
tested to capture this
energy. In some areas,
the waves are strong
near the shore, and
turbines can be built
close to land. Other
systems try to use the
water's kinetic energy
far from shore.
Ocean waters can
be very warm near
the surface. They take in the heat from the Sun. Far below the
surface, however, the temperature falls rapidly. In some hot
In a hydroelectric dam, the movement of water
through the dam helps to create electricity.
