system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
If ocean water had a higher viscosity, would wave size be affected?
gpt
Yes because the viscosity changes the amount of energy needed to make  the substance move, in this case you are asking about wave size so you are going to need more force to make the wave grow at least the actual size of waves right now. 

Imagine having a sea full of pancake syrup. If you throw a rock at the sea. The rings that are created on the impact would travel a little bit of space compared to what they normally do.

Fun fact: you can “hear” the difference in viscosity based on the temperature of the water at the moment you are pouring it on a cup. Temperature changes the viscosity of the water so it sounds different. 


I’m gonna add more knowledge: since temperature is energy being transferred to water particles “charging them”  ( in this case ) energy transmission between particles it’s gonna be easier thats why it’s easier for hot water to flow. If seawater was hotter there would be bigger wavers 

At high temperatures the viscosity index lowers making it more fluid.

Edit: since a lot of people are worried about global warming and the temperature of the sea I’m gonna answer it: yes the oceans are getting warmer but the increase in the temperature on the seas are really low to make a noticeable change (on the height of waves)
Ice caps melting would do more damage because sea level rises so more land is eaten by the sea. Temperature would affect somehow( in viscosity) but it’s too small to make an really extreme impact noticeable at first sight on the wave height ( in this case) we should be more worried about reefs bleaching and plastic destroying animal life.