Oceanic tides are periodic sea-level oscillations driven primarily by the gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun and the Earth’s rotation, expressed as propagating long waves in the ocean basins. They are described as equilibrium and dynamic tides, with the latter governed by the Laplace tidal equations that incorporate Coriolis effects, bathymetry, and basin geometry. Tides are decomposed into harmonic constituents (e.g., M2, S2, K1), each with distinct frequencies and phases, enabling precise tidal prediction. They play critical roles in coastal dynamics, mixing, and energy dissipation, and are significant for processes such as sediment transport and ocean circulation.
Powerful cyclones can push seawater miles inland, threatening densely populated communities and critical infrastructure built along coastal areas. A combination of exposure and complexity makes the Bay of Bengal in Southeast ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 16, 2026
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A new study by University of Hawai'i at Mānoa researchers revealed that Waikīkī is facing a fundamental shift in flood hazards as sea levels rise—transitioning from a flooding that is driven primarily by rainfall to events ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 16, 2026
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Both winds and tides inject energy into the ocean. Much of that energy is then transported up to thousands of miles by internal waves: large-scale underwater waves that can travel between ocean basins. Quantifying the amount ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 29, 2026
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Earthquakes occur when the tectonic plates of the Earth's crust shift, jolting past each other in a release of built-up tension. However, other natural forces can also influence seismic activity: Hydrological dynamics, like ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 25, 2026
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Tides not only affect regions along the coast, their periodic fluctuations are carried upstream inland through coastal rivers. River sections particularly affected by these tidal pulses are exposed to an increased risk of ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 18, 2026
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Climate change's rising seas may threaten tens of millions more people than scientists and government planners originally thought because of mistaken research assumptions on how high coastal waters already are, a new study ...
Environment
Mar 4, 2026
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Standing on the coast and looking out to sea, you cannot detect the changes with the naked eye. But in northern Germany, sea levels are rising, as is the risk of flooding for the lower-lying coastal regions.
Earth Sciences
Feb 23, 2026
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People living on the low-lying shores of the Bristol Channel and Severn estuary began their day like any other on January 30, 1607. The weather was calm. The sky was bright.
Earth Sciences
Jan 29, 2026
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When most of us look out at the ocean, we see a mostly flat blue surface stretching to the horizon. It's easy to imagine the sea beneath as calm and largely static—a massive, still abyss far removed from everyday experience.
Earth Sciences
Jan 29, 2026
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Tidal turbines harbor the potential to provide a natural, inexhaustible source of power, but have faced some regulatory hurdles and scientific uncertainty about risks to marine life.
