Final answer:
A Kelvin Wave is an oceanographic phenomenon that is created by wind or atmospheric pressure changes, moving primarily towards the east due to the Coriolis effect. Standing waves, on the other hand, are formed when waves traveling in opposite directions interfere, and can be observed in strings and water ripples.
Step-by-step explanation:
A Kelvin Wave is an oceanographic phenomenon that is part of the broader category of internal waves in the ocean. They are produced in a broad basin when there is a disturbance, such as changes in wind or atmospheric pressure, that displaces the water's surface. Kelvin waves are unique because they are trapped at the equator due to the Coriolis effect or along a coastline since Earth’s rotation affects their propagation. They tend to move towards the east and can play a significant role in phenomena such as El Niño.
Typically, a Kelvin wave is initiated in the wake of some forcing event; for example, when the wind blows steadily across the ocean surface, it can shepherd the warmer surface waters together, creating a mass of warmer water that can form a wave. As this wave travels across the ocean basin, it may alter weather patterns and even affect global climate trends. These waves can be significant in transferring energy and momentum across ocean basins.
Standing waves are a related but different concept, where waves traveling in opposite directions interfere with each other, creating nodes and antinodes. Examples of standing waves include the vibrations seen on a stringed musical instrument like a guitar or a violin and the ripples observed within a bowl of water after dropping an object such as a cork. These physics principles show the remarkable dynamic behaviors of waves in various contexts, whether in a string, water, or even atmospheric phenomena like the Kelvin Wave.