What causes tides and why do they vary from one day to the next?
Tides are really all about gravity, and when we’re talking about the daily tides, it’s the moon’s gravity that’s causing them. As Earth rotates, the moon’s gravity pulls on different parts of our planet. When the moon’s gravity pulls on the water in the oceans, however, someone’s bound to notice.
Why do the tide heights vary so much?
Because the moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth, the distance between them varies by about 31,000 miles over the course of a month. Once a month, when the moon is closest to the Earth (at perigee), tide-generating forces are higher than usual, producing above-average ranges in the tides.
Does the tidal range vary from one day to the next?
The range of the tide varies between locations and also varies over a range of time scales. In diurnal regions, the largest tidal ranges occur every fortnight during equatorial tides, when the Moon is over the tropics; while the smallest tidal ranges occur during tropic tides, when the Moon is over the equator.
Which tides are really high and occur twice a month when the moon and the sun are aligned?
Rather, the term is derived from the concept of the tide “springing forth.” Spring tides occur twice each lunar month all year long without regard to the season. Neap tides, which also occur twice a month, happen when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other.
Why does Weymouth have 4 high tides a day?
Originally Answered: Why are tides formed 4 times a day in Southampton, the coast of England? The double high tide in the solent is caused by the incoming sea taking two routes, one to either side of the Isle of Wight.
Why are there two high tides a day about 12 hours apart from each other?
Because the Earth rotates through two tidal “bulges” every lunar day, coastal areas experience two high and two low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. High tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart. This occurs because the moon revolves around the Earth in the same direction that the Earth is rotating on its axis.