Chapter 11 - Tides

Tides

periodic short-term changes in ocean surface height at a particular place. formed by gravity from the sun and moon, motion of the Earth, and inertia of water

Where does the biggest tide change in the world occur?

Bay of Fundy

The strength of attraction between Earth and the moon is…

Equal

The water forms a _____ on either side of the Earth

Bulge

How many high and low tides are there every 24 hours?

Two for each tide level

How much later are high tides than the one the day before?

50 minutes later

Dynamic theory

a set of concepts that describe behavior as the emergent product of a self-organizing, multicomponent system evolving over time. adds fluid motion to celestial mechanics to the equilibrium theory

Semidiurnal tides

a common tidal pattern that occurs twice in a lunar day

Diurnal tides

a common tidal pattern that occurs once in a lunar day

Mixed tides

a common tidal pattern where two high tides and two low tides occur per day, but the heights of each tide differs; the two high tides are of different heights, as are the two low tides

Amphidromic point

a place where the tidal range (difference in height between high and low tide) is zero compared with other areas in the basin. no tide

Tidal datum

a standard elevation defined by a certain phase of the tide. reference point of tidal height. not always sea level

Tidal range

the difference in height between high tide and low tide. differs with basin configuration

Tidal bore

steep wave moving upstream at some inlets

Meteorogical tides

• weather related alterations

• storm surge

• tsunami

• strong on-shore wind

How can tidal patterns affect marine organisms?

• Some organisms live between the high and low tide zone (intertidal zone)

• Sorted into subzones within the intertidal zone