ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Kelvin wave

Hey there! Have you ever seen waves in the water when you go swimming? Well, Kelvin waves are kind of like those waves, but they happen in the ocean and they're really, really big!

You see, the ocean is always moving and changing. Sometimes, changes in temperature can make the water move around in big waves that can travel for thousands of miles across the ocean. These moving waves are called Kelvin waves.

Kelvin waves are special because they don't just go up and down like regular waves. They also move from side to side in a special way that scientists call "oscillating." Think of it like a slinky - when you push one end of a slinky, the coils move back and forth, but they also move along the slinky at the same time. Kelvin waves do something similar, but instead of a slinky, they're moving through the ocean!

These Kelvin waves can have a big impact on the climate and weather in different parts of the world. They can affect things like the temperature of the water and the strength of ocean currents, which can have a big impact on things like fishing and shipping. Scientists study Kelvin waves to learn more about how the ocean works and how it affects our planet.

So, that's the basics of Kelvin waves! They're big waves that move through the ocean in a special way, and they can have a big impact on our planet. Cool, huh?