Introducing Ocean Tides

Tides are long-period waves traveling across oceans. They're not random; rather, they follow a predictable schedule influenced by celestial bodies, primarily the Moon, and to a lesser extent, the Sun.

The Moon's gravitational pull generates bulges in Earth's oceans, creating high tides. As Earth rotates, locations pass through these bulges, experiencing high and then low tides approximately every six hours.

The Sun, despite being 390 times farther than the Moon, affects tides due to its mass. Its gravitational force combines with the Moon’s, modulating tidal patterns and intensities.

During full and new moons, the Sun, Moon, and Earth align, producing 'spring tides' with higher highs and lower lows. In contrast, 'neap tides' occur during quarter moons due to perpendicular Sun-Moon-Earth alignment, resulting in milder tides.

Earth's axial tilt causes tidal variations throughout the year. Tidal ranges are greater during solstices when the Sun's declination is highest, and smaller during equinoxes.

Ocean floor topography, or bathymetry, significantly alters tidal patterns. Submarine ridges and contours disrupt tidal waves, shaping local sea level changes and leading to unique tidal phenomena in different regions.

Recent research suggests a correlation between tides and seismic activity. Some scientists believe that low tides can trigger earthquakes along coastal fault lines, providing new insights into natural disaster prediction.

Tidal friction caused by ocean tides is gradually slowing Earth's rotation, adding approximately 1.7 milliseconds to the day every century.