4.6 Ocean Tides and the Moon
2 min read•june 12, 2024
The 's gravity creates ocean on , causing water to bulge on both the near and far sides. As Earth rotates, different areas experience high and low tides, resulting in tidal cycles that vary globally.
Tidal patterns are influenced by the alignment of celestial bodies. Spring tides occur when the and Moon align, while neap tides happen when they're at right angles. The Moon's is stronger due to its proximity to Earth.
Ocean Tides and the Moon
Moon's gravity and ocean tides
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- Moon's gravitational pull attracts water on Earth's surface closest to it, creating a bulge known as high tide
- Occurs on side of Earth facing the Moon
- This bulge is referred to as the
- Centrifugal force from Earth-Moon system's rotation creates another high tide on opposite side of Earth
- Equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to Moon's gravitational pull
- Two low tides occur between the high tides where water is pulled away from the surface (Bay of Fundy, Tierra del Fuego)
- Earth's rotation causes different parts of the planet to experience high and low tides, resulting in a tidal cycle (, )
Celestial alignment and tidal patterns
- Spring tides happen when Sun, Moon, and Earth align during and phases
- Gravitational forces of Sun and Moon combine, causing higher high tides and lower low tides (Bay of Fundy, Brittany coast)
- Neap tides occur when Sun and Moon are at right angles relative to Earth during first and moon phases
- Gravitational forces of Sun and Moon partially cancel each other out
- Results in lower high tides and higher low tides compared to spring tides (Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea)
Tidal forces of Moon vs Sun
- Despite Sun's much larger mass, Moon has a more significant effect on Earth's tides
- Moon is ~400 times closer to Earth than Sun
- Tidal forces are inversely proportional to the cube of the distance ()
- Sun's tidal force on Earth is about 46% of Moon's tidal force
- Sun's influence is more noticeable during spring and neap tides when forces align or partially cancel out (, )
Tidal Variations and Measurements
- is the difference in height between high tide and low tide
- affects the strength of tidal forces
- Amphidromic points are locations where tidal range is nearly zero
Key Terms to Review (28)
Amphidromic Point: An amphidromic point is a location in the ocean where tidal waves originate and spread outward in all directions, resulting in no net rise or fall of the tide. It is a critical concept in understanding the dynamics of ocean tides and their relationship with the Moon.
Apogee: Apogee is the point in an orbit around Earth where the orbiting object is farthest from the planet. It is one of two apsides, the other being perigee, which is the closest point.
Apogee: Apogee refers to the point in an object's orbit around Earth when it is farthest from the planet's surface. This term is particularly relevant in the context of the motions of satellites and spacecraft, the phases and motions of the Moon, ocean tides, and eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
Darwin: Charles Darwin was a 19th-century naturalist best known for his contributions to the theory of evolution by natural selection. His work also had implications in various scientific fields, including the study of Earth's natural phenomena.
Diurnal: Diurnal refers to a daily cycle or pattern that is repeated over the course of a 24-hour period. It is a term used to describe natural phenomena that exhibit daily fluctuations or variations in response to the Earth's rotation and the cycle of day and night.
Earth: Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet in the universe to harbor life. It is the largest and densest of the inner planets, with a diverse range of geological features, a dynamic atmosphere, and a unique position in the Solar System that has enabled the development of complex life forms.
First Quarter: The first quarter is the phase of the Moon when the Moon's illuminated half is facing the right side from the perspective of an observer on Earth, appearing as a half-moon. This phase occurs approximately one week after a new moon, when the Moon has completed a quarter of its orbit around the Earth.
Full Moon: A full moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon's Earth-facing side is fully illuminated by the Sun's rays. This happens when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, resulting in the Moon's disk appearing completely lit from the perspective of an observer on Earth.
Gravitational Acceleration: Gravitational acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object due to the Earth's gravitational pull. It is the rate at which the velocity of an object changes when it is subjected to the Earth's gravitational force, and it plays a crucial role in understanding the motion of objects and the tides in the ocean.
Harmonic Analysis: Harmonic analysis is the study of the periodic or repeating patterns within a signal or function. It involves decomposing complex waveforms into their constituent sine and cosine components, allowing for a deeper understanding of the underlying structure and properties of the original signal.
Lunar Phases: Lunar phases refer to the different appearances of the Moon as it orbits the Earth and its position relative to the Sun. These phases are caused by the Moon's revolution around the Earth and the illumination of its surface by the Sun's light.
Moon: The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, a celestial body that orbits the planet and plays a crucial role in various astronomical and geological phenomena. It is a prominent feature in the night sky and has captivated humanity for millennia.
Neap Tide: A neap tide is a type of tide that occurs when the gravitational pull of the moon and sun are at right angles to each other, resulting in a smaller difference between high and low tides. This happens during the first and third quarters of the moon's cycle.
New Moon: The New Moon is the first phase of the lunar cycle, when the Moon is positioned between the Earth and Sun, and the side of the Moon facing the Earth is not illuminated. This marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, as the Moon's orbit around the Earth brings it to the point where the Moon's position relative to the Earth and Sun results in the lunar disk being completely dark from our perspective on Earth.
Perigean Spring Tide: A perigean spring tide is a type of spring tide that occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to the Earth, known as perigee. This results in exceptionally high and low tides, with the high tides being significantly higher and the low tides being significantly lower than average spring tides.
Perigee: Perigee is the point in an orbit of a celestial body where it is closest to Earth. It applies to any object, such as the Moon or a satellite, that is orbiting our planet.
Perigee: Perigee refers to the point in the orbit of a satellite, the Moon, or any other celestial body when it is closest to the Earth. This term is particularly important in the context of understanding the motions of satellites and spacecraft, the phases and motions of the Moon, ocean tides, and eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
Proxigean Spring Tide: A proxigean spring tide is a particularly strong tidal event that occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to the Earth, known as perigee, and the Sun and Moon are aligned, causing their gravitational forces to combine and create an exceptionally high and low tide. This phenomenon is closely linked to the topics of ocean tides and the Moon's influence on Earth's tidal patterns.
Semidiurnal: Semidiurnal refers to a tidal pattern that experiences two high tides and two low tides each day, with a period of approximately 12 hours and 25 minutes between consecutive high or low tides. This tidal cycle is closely linked to the Moon's influence on the Earth's oceans.
Spring Tide: A spring tide is a type of tide that occurs when the gravitational pull of the sun and moon are aligned, resulting in the highest and lowest tides of the month. This happens during a new moon or full moon, when the Earth, moon, and sun are approximately in line.
Sun: The Sun is the star at the center of the solar system, providing light, heat, and energy that sustains life on Earth. As the closest star to our planet, the Sun's gravitational influence shapes the orbits of the planets and other objects in the solar system, and its nuclear fusion powers the processes that drive the evolution of the universe.
Syzygy: Syzygy is the straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies in a gravitational system. This term is particularly relevant in the context of ocean tides and eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
Third Quarter: The third quarter refers to a specific phase in the Moon's cycle, where the Moon appears half-illuminated from Earth's perspective. This phase is characterized by the Moon being positioned at a 90-degree angle relative to the Sun and Earth, resulting in a distinctive half-moon appearance.
Tidal Bulge: The tidal bulge is the raised area of the Earth's oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun. It is a critical concept in understanding ocean tides and their relationship to the celestial bodies that influence them.
Tidal Force: Tidal force is the differential gravitational pull exerted by a massive body, such as the Moon or a galaxy, on different parts of another object. This uneven gravitational attraction can lead to distortions, stretching, or even the breakup of the affected object.
Tidal Prediction: Tidal prediction is the process of forecasting the timing and magnitude of tides at a specific location based on the gravitational interactions between the Earth, Moon, and Sun. It is a crucial aspect of understanding and predicting the behavior of ocean tides, which are influenced by the Moon's gravitational pull.
Tidal Range: Tidal range refers to the vertical difference between the high tide and low tide levels in a given location. It is a crucial concept in understanding the behavior and impact of ocean tides, which are primarily influenced by the gravitational interactions between the Earth, Moon, and Sun.
Tides: Tides are the periodic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, along with Earth's rotation. These movements create a cycle of high and low tides that typically occur twice daily.