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.
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.
In order to understand currents, tides and other ocean dynamics, scientists need to accurately capture sea surface height, or a snapshot of the ocean's surface, including peaks and valleys due to changes in wind, currents ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 9, 2026
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When hurricanes or strong storms sweep up the United States' East Coast and meet the shores of the country's largest estuary, Chesapeake Bay, the familiar pattern of storm activity gets a little more complicated. A new study, ...
Many ecosystems on Earth are affected by pulses of activity: temperature swings between seasons, incoming and outgoing tides, the yearly advent of rainy periods. These variations can play an important role in providing nutrients ...
Earth Sciences
Nov 24, 2025
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As a result of climate change, rising sea levels are threatening low-lying coastal areas around the world, such as the Wadden Sea in the North Sea. Tidal basins form a natural protective barrier there. They connect the mainland ...
Earth Sciences
Nov 21, 2025
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In the summer of 2022, 20 islands in the Maldives were flooded when a distant swell event in the Indian Ocean coincided with an extremely high tide level.
Earth Sciences
Nov 13, 2025
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Imagine you're walking along a beach, talking to your friend, enjoying the sunshine. Time goes by and it's time to head back. But as you approach the headland you had walked around previously, you realize that's not possible ...
Earth Sciences
Oct 20, 2025
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The Gulf of Mexico, a regional ocean, is hugged by the southeastern United States and a large stretch of the Mexican coast, making it very important for both countries. The area helps bring goods to local and global markets, ...
Earth Sciences
Oct 8, 2025
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Antarctic ice is melting. But exactly which forces are causing it to melt and how melting will influence sea level rise are areas of active research. Understanding the decay of ice shelves, which extend off the edges of the ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 8, 2025
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Poohsticks, the game in which Piglet and Winnie the Pooh throw sticks into the river from one side of a bridge, and then rush over to the other side to see whose stick appears first, is all about current flow. Disappointingly, ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 19, 2025
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