Tides Summary

Tides

• Daily rise and fall of sea levels due to the Moon and Sun's gravitational forces.
• Diurnal tides: One cycle/day (one low, one high).
• Semidiurnal tides: Two cycles/day (two low, two high).

Special Tides

• Neap tides: Occur twice a month (first and third quarter moon phases).
  • Less extreme differences.
• Spring tides: Occur twice a month (full and new moon).
  • Higher high tides and lower low tides.

Tidal Range

• Vertical difference between high and low tide.

Other Concepts

• Ocean currents: Masses of cold water moving from poles towards the equator.
• Ocean waves: Number of waves passing a given point during a specific time interval.
• Ocean tides: Rise and fall of sea level.
• Coriolis Effect: Deflection of moving objects, including ocean currents, due to Earth's rotation.
• Continental Deflection: The change in direction and flow of a current by a landmass.