The rise and fall of seawater because of the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon are called tides. Sea waves produced by tides are known as tidal waves. The rise of seawater and its movement towards the coast is called tide. There are different types of tides.
Types of Tides
Types of Tides According to the Height of the Tide
High Tide: When the water level is high, is known as high water tide. High tides take place when the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon are in the same line. When their gravitational forces work together, the water of the Earth’s surface gets pulled up and high tides are formed.
High tides also occur in the part of the Earth which is facing away from the Moon because of the centrifugal force (the force which draws a rotating body away from the centre of rotation) of the gravitational pull of the Moon causing an outward bulge of water.
The period of farthest distance between the Moon and the Earth is called apogee. The period of the nearest distance between the Moon and the Earth is known as perigee.
Low Tide: When the water level is low, is known as Low water tide. When the Sun and the Moon are at the position of right angles with reference to the Earth, the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon work against each other resulting in low tides.
Every place experiences tides twice a day. The difference between high tidewater and low tide water is called tide range.
Types of Tides According to the Lunar Phase
Spring tides: When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in the same line, the tides are highest and they are called spring tides.
Neap tides: When the Moon is in its first and last quarter, the ocean water gets pulled in the opposite direction of the Moon by the Sun’s and Earth’s gravitational force causing low tides. These tides are also known as neap tides.
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Movements of Ocean Waters
The rise and fall of seawater because of the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon are called tides. Sea waves produced by tides are known as tidal waves. Read more