- What are the major factors that influence tidal fluctuations? - Explain what h
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Question
- What are the major factors that influence tidal fluctuations? - Explain what happens to the level of the tides during the phases of a moon cycle from new moon to full moon to new moon? - How does the moon’s elliptical orbit affect the tides? - How does the moon’s perigee or nearest point of orbit affect the tides? - How dose the moon’s apogee or farthest point of orbit affect the tides?- What are the major factors that influence tidal fluctuations? - Explain what happens to the level of the tides during the phases of a moon cycle from new moon to full moon to new moon? - How does the moon’s elliptical orbit affect the tides? - How does the moon’s perigee or nearest point of orbit affect the tides? - How dose the moon’s apogee or farthest point of orbit affect the tides?
- Explain what happens to the level of the tides during the phases of a moon cycle from new moon to full moon to new moon? - How does the moon’s elliptical orbit affect the tides? - How does the moon’s perigee or nearest point of orbit affect the tides? - How dose the moon’s apogee or farthest point of orbit affect the tides?
Explanation / Answer
Tidal fluctuations primarily result from a combination of forces arising due to graviational pull of the Sun and Moon. The revolution of the Earth, which results in its orbit around the Sun, creates centrifugal force which affects the shape or buldge of tides. Apart from such natural forces, the presence of landmass in the form of continents affects the large scale movement of ocean water that results in different patterns of tides in various locations around the Earth.
The orbit of Moon around the Earth results in the cycle of New Moon and Full Moon. The New Moon occurs when the orbit of Moon falls between the orbit of Earth around the Sun. The Full Moon occurs when the orbit of Earth falls between the Sun and Moon. This cycle is known as the lunar cycle and happens over a course of one month. Two quarters of the lunar cycle, i.e. Full Moon and New Moon, create "spring tides" having high tides of highest levels and low tides of lowest levels. On the other hand, the other two quarters of the lunar cycle create "neap tides" when the direction of Moon is perpendicular to the orbit of Earth around Sun, hence resulting in average levels (mid-highs and mid-lows) of tides.
A lunar cycle consists of 30 days, out of which the Moon stays nearest to the Earth for 1 day, and after about 15 days of elliptically orbiting around the Earth, the Moon moves farthest from The Earth. This shift in position of the Moon affects the tidal range, in that the closest position (perigee) produces very large ranges within a day (also called diurnal variation) while the farthest position (apogee) produces very small ranges. Such ranges are evident in various types of tides such as diurnal, semi-diurnal and mixed semi-diurnal tides.
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