Unit 8 Notes – Tides
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Unit 8 Notes – Tides Unit 8 Vocabulary zenith syzygy diurnal tide nadir quadrature semidiurnal tide gravitational force declination mixed tide centripetal force perihelion flood current resultant force aphelion ebb current tidal period perigee tidal range lunar day apogee tidal bore spring tide amphidromic point whirlpool neap tide cotidal line What are Tides? Tides are the periodic raising and lowering of ocean sea level Tides are very long __________________________ waves Caused by combination of gravity and motion between Earth, Moon, and Sun _________________________________ gravitational laws explain the tides Gravitational Forces Gravitational force is greatest at _________________ – closest to moon Gravitational force is lowest force at ______________ – furthest from moon and opposite zenith Centripetal Force Centripetal force tethers the Earth and Moon to each other (keeps them in ______________) Centripetal force is __________________ on all parts of the earth Resultant Forces produce tides The resultant force is the ________________ between gravitational and centripetal forces It is the relatively small force that produces the ____________ The resultant force pushes water into two simultaneous ___________________ o One toward Moon o One away from Moon Tidal Periods ____________________________ – time between high tides _________________ - Time between two successive overhead moons equal to 24 hours, 50 minutes High tides are ______ hours and _____ minutes apart (2 per lunar day) Tidal Bulges – Sun’s Effect Similar to lunar bulges but much smaller (only ________ of the lunar bulge The moons effect on tides is greater because it is so much closer than the sun Monthly Tidal Cycle _____________________ o New or full moons when sun and moon are in alignment o Tidal range is the greatest o ______________ – when celestial bodies are in alignment _____________________ o Quarter moons when sun and moon are at right angles relative to the Earth. o Tidal range is the lowest o ________________ – when celestial bodies are at right angles Declination – a Complicating Factor ________________________ – Angular distance of the Moon or Sun above or below Earth’s equator Sun to Earth: 23.5 degrees north or south of equator Moon to Earth: 28.5 degrees north or south of equator Lunar and solar bulges shift from _______________________ This produces unequal (_______________) tides at different spots around the world Elliptical Orbits – Another Complicating Factor Earth around Sun: o Tidal range greatest at _________________ (January) o Tidal range least at ___________________ (July) Moon around Earth: o Tidal range greatest at ________________ (Moon closest to Earth) o Tidal range least at __________________ (Moon furthest from Earth) o Perigee–apogee cycle is 27.5 days Actual tides are even more complex Continents and friction with ________________ modify tidal bulges Tides are shallow-water waves with _______________ determined by depth of water Idealized tidal bulges cannot form because they cannot keep up with Earth’s ____________________ Where do the tides start? Tides start in the ______________ of the world’s oceans Tides act like water swirling in a bowl. There will be a node in the center where the water level never rises or falls. Amphidromic Points Cotidal map shows tides rotate around _______________________ points. There are 140 amphidromic points in the world’s oceans. Cotidal Lines Cotidal lines show where high tides occur at the same _________________ Tidal Circulation Tides progress around basins, ________________________ in the southern hemisphere and ___________________ in the northern hemisphere Tidal Patterns _________________ One high tide and one low tide per day ____________________ Two equal high and low tides per day ____________________ Two unequal high and low tides per day (most common type) Tidal Graphs Tidal graphs show all the tidal patterns for a __________________ over time Spring and neap tides Diurnal, mixed, and semidiurnal tides Flood and Ebb Currents ___________ current is when the tide is coming in. ____________ current is when the tide is going out Tides in Coastal Waters Tide waves are __________________ by coastlines producing complicated effects This can amplify the tidal range Cook Inlet Alaska and the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia are examples of extreme tides caused by coastal effects The Bay of Fundy ____________________ is the difference between high tide and low tide. The Bay of Fundy in Canada has the greatest tidal range on the planet -56 ft. Nova Scotia bends when the tide comes in! As 14 billion tons of sea water flow into Minas Basin twice daily, the Nova Scotia countryside actually tilts lightly under the immense load ! Tidal Bores The wave on the incoming (flood) tide in certain rivers is known as a Tidal Bore. Tidal bores occur in about __________ rivers throughout the world. The Qiantang Bore in China reaches heights of 15 ft. and travels 15 mph. The Pororoca, in the Amazon River, forms waves 12 ft. high and can reach speeds of 20 mph. The Severn Bore in England is a popular one to surf as shown below. Whirlpools! Rapidly spinning seawater Occur in restricted channels connecting two basins with different __________________ The ________________ in Norway is the world’s largest whirlpool Tide-Generated Power ___________________ energy source but not yet widely used. Possible harmful environmental effects from blocking tidal currents Oldest was built in France in the 1960s Largest was finished in South Korea this year (2011) .