Tides How They Work and Why They Are So Important Beatrix Hutton 2005 How They Work and Why They Are...

TidesHow They Work and Why They

Are So Important

Beatrix Hutton

2005

How They Work and Why They Are So Important

Beatrix Hutton

2005

A Basic Definition

• Alternating rising and falling of water due to the position of the Sun and the moon and the earth.

How Tides are Formed:High Tides

• Are formed when the moon is facing the water and pulls the water upward

Parallel Universe

• A high tide is formed and a high tide is formed at the exact opposite side of the earth.

• This is caused by earth’s rotation.

In The Middle

• Between the 2 high tides two low tides are formed.

• This is repeating constantly around the world

Spring Tides• Are stronger and bigger than other

tides• ocean rises to full capacity• formed when the sun and moon line

up with earth

Neap Tides

• Are smaller and weaker than other tides

• they are weaker than other tides because the moon’s attracting force is partly canceled out

At the Beach

• At most beaches and lakes there are two tidal cycles

• high tide and low tide =tidal cycle

• 2 tidal cycles =semidiurnal

Diurnal Tides

• In a few places there is only one tidal cycle

• these are called diurnal tides

Falling and Rising Tides

• There are several other tides

• rising tides=flood tides• falling tides=ebb tides• lowest point at low

tide and highest point at high tide =slack tide

Longshore Drift

• Long shore drift is a strong current of water than runs almost parallel to shore

• it can go in one way or another depending on the wind

Riptides

• Riptides are a fast moving water current

• the Long shore drift combines with the angle the ocean hit the beach to produce riptides

What to do if you are caught in a Riptide

• The rip current can push you out if you are not careful.

• If you are ever caught in a rip tide you should swim with the current until you are free of the current. Then you can swim back to shore.

Beach Erosion

• Tides cause a lot of erosion

• If nothing keeps the sand in place it will completely wash away

Xtreme Places

• The Bay of Fundy has the largest tidal ranges in the world

• it has a range of 50 ft while most beaches only have a range of 5 of 6 feet

Newton and Tides

• Until the 19th century the only way used to explain tides was Newton’s laws

• Newton did not do much work with tides

Solar Tides and Lunar Tides

• Lunar, Moon, tides are stronger than Solar, Sun, tides because the moon is so much closer to the earth even though it is much smaller than the sun.

Extra Info

• Every 14 days spring tides are produced

• 7 days later neap tides take place

Bibliography

• No Author mentioned.Scholastic Atlas of Oceans. QA International. Montreal. 2004.pgs. 40-41.

• K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. U X L Encyclopedia of Water Science. Volume 1

• Information and Facts on Ocean Tides. No author given. The time last updated not given.Accessed 5/19. At <http.//gometaldetecting.com/ocean-tides.html>

Bibliography continued

• No author given. Tides. Accessed 4/29/05. Last updated 2005. <http://geography.about.com/od/physical geography/a/tides.htm>

• Tides. U X L Encyclopedia of Science.2nd edition.U X L.2002 Junior Reference Collection. Thomson Cale. 4/29/05.<http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/JRC>

About the AuthorHi, my name is Beatrix Hutton. I always liked science and I really love marine biology. The trip to the Florida Keys really made me interested in the ocean. Since I learned to snorkel there I have been trying to learn more about the ocean and the animals living there. I think that I might consider a job in marine biology after I graduate from college.