How Does Wave Action Affect Oxygen Levels Near Shore?

[Si14]

Hi,
Does wave hit the shore produce oxygen? If so, how and how significant is this amount of oxygen?
Thanks!

 

[Borek]

Does wave hit the shore produce oxygen? If so, how and how significant is this amount of oxygen?

Short answer: no.

But I wonder what you are really asking about.

 

[Acut]

Short answer: no.

But I wonder what you are really asking about.

As Borek said, it won't produce any oxygen. But I'm wondering whether the OP is asking if the concentration of O₂ would increase when the wave hits the shore (by mixing some of the oxygen present in the atmosphere). In this case, the answer is yes, since moving waters tend to present a higher percentage of dissolved oxygen than stagnant water.

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/dissolvedoxygen.html

However, this is merely because the water is getting this oxygen from the atmosphere. It's not producing oxygen, it's merely getting it from somewhere else.

 

[Si14]

Thanks.
I was curious about the role of waves in the % of oxygen present in the water. Specifically, between moving waters and still waters.
So, suppose waves do not exist in oceans. Does it affect the livings under water? (you said wave mix oxygen with water and increase the %).

 

[Drakkith]

Thanks.
I was curious about the role of waves in the % of oxygen present in the water. Specifically, between moving waters and still waters.
So, suppose waves do not exist in oceans. Does it affect the livings under water? (you said wave mix oxygen with water and increase the %).

I expect that it would have a negligible effect overall. Most of the oxygen in the ocean comes from plant life living in the ocean producing oxygen via photosynthesis.

 

[ajkoer]

First, most of the current O2 on our planet arose from the oceans.

Second, one way O2 is liberated upon coming to shore, as any swimmer knows, the water gets warmer near the shore. This reduces the O2 solubility, and as such, it is possible that water is releasing oxygen due simply to a temperature differential.