Who needs to know about tides?

Who needs to know about tides?

Scientists are concerned with tides, water levels and tidal currents as well. Ecologists may focus on the tidal mixing of near-shore waters, where pollutants are removed and nutrients are recirculated. Tidal currents also move floating animals and plants to and from breeding areas in estuaries to deeper waters.

What determines the height and occurrence of tides?

The relative distances and positions of the sun, moon and Earth all affect the size and magnitude of the Earth’s two tidal bulges. At a smaller scale, the magnitude of tides can be strongly influenced by the shape of the shoreline. Local wind and weather patterns also can affect tides.

Who discovered high and low tides?

Tides originate in the ocean and progress toward the coastlines, where they appear as the regular rise and fall of the sea surface. Thanks to Sir Isaac Newton’s 1687 discovery, we know that tides are very long-period waves that move through the ocean in response to forces exerted by the moon and sun.

Who was the first person to predict tides?

Eratosthenes (3rd century BC) and Posidonius (1st century BC) both produced detailed descriptions of the tides and their relationship to the phases of the Moon, Posidonius in particular making lengthy observations of the sea on the Spanish coast, although little of their work survived.

Why do tides vary in height?

Because the moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth, the distance between them varies by about 31,000 miles over the course of a month. Once a month, when the moon is closest to the Earth (at perigee), tide-generating forces are higher than usual, producing above-average ranges in the tides.

Why do engineers need to understand tides?

Engineers need data to monitor fluctuating tide levels for harbor engineering projects such as the construction of bridges and docks. Commercial and recreational fishermen use their knowledge of the tides and tidal currents to help them improve their catches.

What does tide height mean?

This is the vertical distance the water rises, or falls, due to the tide. Most charts were developed using the “mean low water” reference plane, or datum, defined as the average of all low tides. A predicted tide height of 3.2 feet means the water will be 3.2 feet higher than the depth indicated on the chart.

Who discovered the tides?

In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton explained that ocean tides result from the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon on the oceans of the earth (Sumich, J.L., 1996).

What is the height of a tide?

The Height of Tide is an important tidal level and refers to the level of the tide is at any point in time. The height of tide is measured from Chart Datum which can be considered the same as the lowest astronomical tide LAT.

Why do scientists study tides?

We study tides for safe navigation, recreation, and coastal development. Tide stations are constructed to measure tides and analyze data so that scientists can predict tides and publish tide tables. Depending on the species and water depth in a particular area, fish may concentrate during ebb or flood tidal currents.

Why do we need tides?

Tides affect other aspects of oceanic life, including the reproductive activities of fish and ocean plants. Floating plants and animals ride the tidal currents between the breeding areas and deeper waters. The tides help remove pollutants and circulate nutrients ocean plants and animals need to survive.

What does it mean when there are two high tides in a day?

When there are two high tides each day with different heights (and two low tides also of different heights), the pattern is called a mixed semi-diurnal tide. The semi-diurnal range (the difference in height between high and low waters over about half a day) varies in a two-week cycle.

How are the tides and the lunar day related?

Here, we see the relationship between the tidal cycle and the lunar day. High tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart, taking six hours and 12.5 minutes for the water at the shore to go from high to low, and then from low to high.

Are there terrestrial factors between the fundamental tide and the observed tide?

But, between the fundamental tide producing forces and the observed tide at a particular place and time, there is a vast area of numerous unknowns that will be referred to as terrestrial factors.

Where does the oscillating current of the tide occur?

Oscillating currents produced by tides are known as tidal streams. The moment that the tidal current ceases is called slack water or slack tide. The tide then reverses direction and is said to be turning. Slack water usually occurs near high water and low water.