Tides & Surges Flashcards
What are tides?
The periodic rise and fall in the level of sea
What are tides caused by?
The gravitational pull of the sun and moon
What creates a high tide?
The moon pulling water towards it, and there is also a compensatory bulge on the opposite side of the world
Where is tide at its lowest?
In areas of the world between the two bulges
What produces a spring tide?
Twice in a lunar month, the moon sun and earth are all in a straight line
What causes a neap tide?
Twice a month, the moon and sun are 90 degrees to each other in relation to the earth
What do tidal ranges determine?
The upper and lower limits of erosion and deposition and the amount of time each day that the littoral zone is exposed
What is a storm/tidal surge?
Occasions when meteorological conditions give rise to strong winds, producing much higher water levels
