Linda Chan, age 14, of Visalia, Calif.., ,for her question:

What causes the ocean waves?

Because it is made of liquid water, the restless ocean is never still. Every day it is pulled out of shape by the tides. Once in a while it is tossed about by an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption. These heaving upsets, however, do not make the waves which rise and fall in hills and dales on the face of the sea.

These wavy heavings are caused by the winds. Strong, stormy winds press down in blustery gusts and make big waves on the ocean. Gentle breezes puff the ocean's face up and down into little waves. Big waves push up the water ahead of them and so the waves from a howling hurricane may travel half way around the world. Scientists are now using this information to tell what weather is happening in distant places.