Are Waves Caused by Monsters in the Sea? Science Fiction

Hi, everybody, and welcome to Science Fiction,

the show where we take your questions on science...

..and magnify them before your very eyes.

Today's question, please, BUD E.

Oh, all right, love.

Just calibrating me calibrator there.

Today's question comes from Miley in Killiney...

The easiest way to understand waves

is to think of a Mexican wave in a football stadium.

Not that type of Mexican wave, you clown!

As you know, a Mexican wave travels round a stadium

but no-one actually moves.

So the wave is like a big, invisible ball of energy

moving along through the crowd.

And it's much the same for the waves in the sea.

It's just energy moving through the water.

And that's where the monsters come in, Miley,

swimming down in the depths of the ocean, with huge, big feet.

Creatures like Jasconius, the island whale,

Squirticus, the ink-spitting squid,

Foul Fidel, the farting mermaid...

Professor! Those are just stories.

What do you mean?

Waves are caused by the effect of the wind blowing over the water,

the moon's gravitational pull on the Earth which causes the tides,

and underwater volcanoes and earthquakes that cause big tsunamis.

So now you know, Miley, waves aren't caused by the monsters in the sea.

Sure that's just a load of old science fiction.

It's time to wave goodbye now.

Ha! See, I'm waving. Do you get it? Wave, ha!

Priceless, huh? Priceless.