Tides Webquest

Part I: Background on Tides

Begin your information search by using your textbook and accessing
http://www.nos.noaa.gov/education/tides/welcome.html
As you read through the tutorial, answer the questions below that correspond to each
section of the tutorial.
What are Tides?
1. What is a basic definition of a tide? Tides are long-period waves that move
through the oceans in response to the forces exerted by the moon and
sun.
. What is a high tide? What is a low tide? A high tide is when the crest of a
wave is further up on shore, and a low tide is when the crest is further
back.
!. What is tidal range? Tidal range is the diference between high and low
tides.
What Causes Tides?
". #ides are caused by the gra$itational attraction of what two celestial bodies? The
Moon and the un.
%. What does &ewton's law of uni$ersal gra$itational state? !ewton"s law of
universal gravitation states that the gravitational attraction between
two bodies is directly proportional to their masses.
(. Which celestial body has a greater effect on tidal forces on )arth? The un.
Gravity, Inertia, and the Two Bulges
*. +ow does the moon create a bulge? As gravitational force acts to draw
the water closer to the moon, inertia attempts to keep the water in
place. #ut the gravitational force exceeds it and the water is pulled
toward the moon, causing a $bulge% of water on the near side.
1,. What causes a bulge to be created on the opposite side of the )arth or the -far
side. from the moon? &n the $far side,% the gravitational attraction of
the moon is less because it is farther away. 'ere, inertia exceeds
the gravitational force, and the water tries to keep going in a
straight line, moving away from the (arth, also forming a bulge.
Changing ngles and Changing Tides
11. /escribe how changes in the relati$e positions of the moon and sun change in
relation to the )arth? As the moon revolves around the (arth, its angle
increases and decreases in relation to the e)uator.
1. At what point is the sun at its minimum declination and its maximum declination?
*uring the vernal and autumnal e)uinoxes, the sun is at its
minimum declination. &n the summer and winter solstices, the sun
is at its maximum declination.
!requency o" Tides # The $unar %ay
10. 1ompare and contrast a solar and lunar day. +ow long is a lunar day? +nlike a
,--hour solar day, a lunar day lasts ,- hours and ./ minutes. This
occurs because the moon revolves around the (arth in the same
direction that the (arth rotates around its axis.
1". Why do most coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides?
#ecause the (arth rotates through two tidal $bulges% every lunar
day.
1%. +ow long does it take for high tide to occur? +ow long is the time between low
and high tide? 'igh tides occur 0, hours and ,. minutes apart. 1t
takes six hours and 0,.. minutes for the water at the shore to go
from high to low, or from low to high.
Tidal &ariations # The In"luence o" Position and %istance
1(. What causes spring tides? What causes neap tides? +ow many spring and neap
tides occur in a lunar month? The solar tide has an additive efect on the lunar
tide, creating extra-high high tides, and very low, low tides2both
commonly called spring tides. &ne week later, when the sun and moon are
at right angles to each other, the solar tide partially cancels out the lunar
tide and produces moderate tides known as neap tides. *uring each lunar
month, two sets of spring tides and two sets of neap tides occur.
1*. +ow are tide2generating forces affected when the moon is closest to the )arth 3or
perigee4? when the moon is farthest away from the )arth 3or apogee4? +ow does this
affect the tides that are produced? &nce a month, when the moon is closest to
the (arth 3at perigee4, tide-generating forces are higher than usual,
producing above-average ranges in the tides.
,. +ow are tide2generating forces affected when the )arth is closest to the sun 3or
perihelion4? when the )arth is farthest from the sun 3or aphelion4? +ow does this
affect the tides that are produced? 5hen the (arth is closest to the sun
3perihelion4, which occurs about 6anuary , of each calendar year, the tidal
ranges are enhanced. 5hen the (arth is furthest from the sun 3aphelion4,
around 6uly ,, the tidal ranges are reduced.
What ""ects Tides in ddition to the 'un and (oon?
1. +ow are the magnitudes of tides affected by shorelines? By mid2ocean islands?
The magnitude of tides can be strongly in7uenced by the shape of the
shoreline. 5hen oceanic tidal bulges hit wide continental margins, the
height of the tides can be magni8ed. 9onversely, mid-oceanic islands not
near continental margins typically experience very small tides.
. +ow does a funnel2shaped bay compare to a narrow inlet and shallow water?
:unnel-shaped bays in particular can dramatically alter tidal magnitude.
!arrow inlets and shallow water also tend to dissipate incoming tides.
!. What is the affect of strong tidal ri$ers on tides in estuaries? ;owerful seasonal
river 7ows in the spring can severely alter or mask the incoming tide.
5. What other abiotic factors affect tides? 1ompare and contrast wind and weather
patterns that affect tides. trong ofshore winds can move water away from
coastlines, exaggerating low tide exposures. &nshore winds may act to
pile up water onto the shoreline, virtually eliminating low tide exposures.
'igh < pressure systems can depress sea levels, leading to clear sunny
days with exceptionally low tides. 9onversely, low-pressure systems that
contribute to cloudy, rainy conditions typically are associated with tides
than are much higher than predicted.