Tides and currents Flashcards
What are tides caused by?
Gravitational pull of moon and sun
Do the sun and moon have the same influence?
No, the moon has greatest influence due to its distance
What happens to oceans closest to the moon?
Oceans have an outwards bulge
What causes high tide
Oceans with outwards bulge
What causes low tide
draining of water from bulge areas
How many times does moon orbit earth and how does it effect tides
every 29 days. high tides follow its path
How many high and low tides a day?
2 of each a day
What is spring tide
highest tide where earth is between moon and sun
What is neap tide
When moon and sun are at right angles
Describe the tides at spring tide
high hightides and low low tides
Describe the tides at neap tide
low hightide and high low tide
Do neap or spring tides have a larger depth of water
Spring tide
How many spring and neap tides a month
2 of each a month
What else effects tides other than the sun and moon
Ocean bed, weather patterns, weather conditions, shape of coastlines
What is a tidal range
difference between high and low tide
