What causes the tides?

Introduction

Tides are the periodic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, along with the Earth's rotation. Understanding the mechanisms behind tides is crucial for various human activities, including navigation, coastal management, and environmental conservation.

Key Insights

Gravitational Forces of the Moon and Sun:
- The primary cause of tides is the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on the Earth's oceans. The Moon's gravitational force has a more significant effect due to its proximity to Earth, while the Sun's gravitational force also contributes but to a lesser extent .
Earth's Rotation and Ellipticity:
- The Earth's rotation and its elliptical shape influence tidal patterns. These factors cause variations in tidal observations and contribute to the deformation of the Earth, known as the "body tide".
Atmospheric Tides:
- Tides are not limited to the oceans; they also occur in the atmosphere. Atmospheric tides are influenced by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the thermal effects of solar radiation. These tides can be observed through changes in atmospheric pressure .
Non-Astronomical Factors:
- Changes in tidal properties can also be driven by non-astronomical factors such as wetland reclamation, channel dredging, and other environmental changes. These factors can significantly alter tidal amplitudes and are particularly noticeable in estuaries and tidal rivers .
Internal Tides:
- Internal tides are generated by the interaction of surface tides with underwater topographic features. These tides contain a significant portion of the energy of surface tides and play a role in the general circulation of ocean waters.
Planetary Influence:
- The influence of other planets on Earth's tides is minimal. Planetary alignment contributes only a negligible amount to tidal forces, making it an insignificant factor in tidal events.

Conclusion

Tides are primarily caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun, with the Moon having a more substantial effect due to its proximity to Earth. The Earth's rotation and elliptical shape also play a role in shaping tidal patterns. Additionally, atmospheric tides and non-astronomical factors such as environmental changes can influence tidal properties. Internal tides, generated by underwater topographic features, contribute to the overall energy dynamics of ocean waters. The influence of other planets on tides is minimal and not significant in causing tidal events. Understanding these various factors is essential for accurate tidal predictions and effective coastal management.

What causes the tides?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Body tides on an elliptical, rotating, elastic and oceanless earth

Earth's rotation and elliptical stratification significantly affect the body tide, improving our understanding of the Earth's structure and dynamical behavior.

Tides in the atmosphere

Atmospheric tides, caused by solar and lunar gravitational forces, can be forecasted and can be reconstructed from hourly records of atmospheric pressure, influencing events in the atmosphere significantly.

Changing Tides: The Role of Natural and Anthropogenic Factors.

Tides are changing worldwide due to shelf processes and changes in estuaries and tidal rivers, with anthropogenic development and sea-level rise causing significant changes in tidal properties.

The Global S1 Tide

The S1 tide is caused by diurnal atmospheric pressure loading, with common features like large amplitudes in the Arabian Sea and Labrador Sea, but differs from other diurnal tides in its excitation and Antarctic Kelvin wave absence.

Just how much do the planets affect the tides?

Planetary alignment contributes at most tenths of a millimeter to a tide, and extreme tidal events are likely caused by factors such as Sun and Moon proximity, equinox, and weather.

Tides and Water Levels

Tides are caused by the forces exerted by the moon and sun, and their regular rise and fall along shorelines is crucial for maintaining coastal areas and preventing damage to property.

The Tides They Are A‐Changin': A Comprehensive Review of Past and Future Nonastronomical Changes in Tides, Their Driving Mechanisms, and Future Implications

Tides are shifting due to nonastronomical factors, with sea level rise and climate change likely to alter tides over the next several centuries, affecting coastal defense, risk assessment, and ecological change.

Internal tides in the ocean

Internal tides in the ocean are generated by surface tides passing over topographic features, but are not a significant sink for energy extracted from the surface tide.

Tides and Currents

Tides are caused by local sea changes, which can be explained in relatively simple terms, while quantitative analysis may require detailed mathematical analysis.

What Causes the Tides

The tides are caused by the force of gravity, which is determined by mass and distance, with particles closer to us exerting a stronger attraction than particles further away.

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