nic water is highly dynamic. I is always in motion. 7, tre % The o¢ two types of regular movements in the ocean water: 1, Horizontal movement (ocean currents) and 2. Vertical movement (rising of bottom water as well as sing, surface water). The movements are the result of variation in density duc to aay, and variation in temperature. Winds are also Feaponsible q? horizontal movements in the ocean water. TIDES water The regular periodic alternating rise and fall of the level of in the oceans twice in about 24 hours are known as Tides. 7, ‘ic While the falling of water | rising of water is termed as the the Ebb Tide. Causes of Tides 1. Gravitational Force « Every object in the universe exerts a gravitational pull on every other object. Only after the discovery of universal law of | gravitation by Sir Isaac Newton, the effect of the Sun and the Moon on the tides was fully understood. The effect of gravity increases or decreases with the distance and the mass of the | body. » Tides are thus caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and to some extent by the pull ofthe Sun. + The Moon, though small in size is very near the Earth. So it exerts a strong gravitational pull on the Earth. + The Sun is very far from the Earth, yet due to its greater mass, it exerts some gravitational pull. The lunar tides are mainly modified by the Sun’s gravity. « Water, being liquid, can be pulled by the gravitational attraction of the moon. So, the water of the Earth nearest to the moon will be pulled by the moon causing water to pile up in certain regions. » People living on the sea-shore must have observed the connection between the moon and the tides. As the moon rises later each day by about 50 minutes than the day before, the high tide occurs late each day.pp jation ofthe Earth 2, Reine daily motion or the rotation of the Earth from west to cast “cs the westward progress of tides. han i causes qve around the Barth, —— Wijollows the movement of the Mooi n except where the presence Majand obstructs their motion, p ether you TIDES ARE CAUSED _ figure 12-1, the Moon is exactly over point A and its gravitational einiinction causes the water to pile up towards point A where an at pary high tide is caused, She water level at point C and point D is lowered because water is a V4 “Tyawn towards point A. Thus, low tides are caused at point C and point D _ here is.a piling up of water on the opposite side of point A, which is tisoint B. So, water is drawn towards point B causing high tide. _ the reasons for high tides caused at point A and point B are totally Pe ‘ferent. Point A is facing the Moon so obviously, water at that See % point is drawn little away from the solid Earth beneath it. But at 7 pant B, on the opposite side, itis the Earth that is pulled a little pay from the water, which tends to be left behind. This is the smson, why there is a high tide on the opposite side of point A swell. KO Fig. 12:4 How tides are caused que TIME OF TIDES asthe Earth takes 24 hours to complete its one rotation on its axis, ja place should experience tide after 12 hours. The tide water exe gradually for about six hours until it reaches high tide, and then {here is a fall in the water level for about 6 hours until it reaches the Jow tide and the cycle begins again. he time of high tide changes everyday. Why? w Every place should experience high tide after 12 hours. But this never happens because the high tides occur at a regular interval of About 12 hours and 26 minutes. For example, if the high tide occurs at point A at 8 a.m., the next high tide will be at 8.26 p.m. and the next high tide at 8.52 a.m. on the next day and soon. «This happens due to the fact that the Moon is revolving around the Earth in the same direction as the Earth’s rotation from west to east. See Fig. 12.2. «On agiven day point A, has a high tide due to its position facing the Moon at M ss AU, ‘y is Ron On the next day, after 24 hours, the moon has travelled forward 12° 12' to position M,. So that, point A, on the Earth would take 24 My =Frst Postion of Moon hours and 52 minutes (at the rate of 4 minutes for 1° longitude) to spe eer coolio come again at position A, under the moon, which is there at M,. i *Ifthe Moon had been stationary, each place on the Earth’s surface Fig. 12.2 To show why the time would have come under it exactly after 24 hours and would have oo aero eee experienced the next high tide after a lapse of 12 hours and the next after 24 hours, because they occur twice a day. Tides and Ocean Currents £05)Last Qusrer Neap Tides, Fig. 12.4. Spring and Neap tides YS Saraswat! Geography (IOSEHIX AMPLITUDE OR RANGE OF TIDE «The term amplitude explains the greatness of extent or i, words, the average difference in water level between high ty” low tide. out ta e «The tidal range is generally 1 to 3 metres but it depends position of the Sun and the Moon, that is why it differs froma the day. See Fig. 12.3. day Fig. 12.3 The range of Spring and Neap tes THE MAGNITUDE OF TIDE + Tides are of different magnitude or height in the open sea to the coastal areas. In the open ocean, the difference in the hei” Seer easin aashen case ecehaas ea bee ee a + But in shallow marginal seas, it can increase to about 10 mere. | and in some of the estuaries, up to 12 metres, which is of ga advantage to fishermen. On an average, tides rise to aos 4 metres. ‘SPRING AND NEAP TIDES | Spring Tides = These tides are produced when the Moon, Sun and the Earth ae almost in the same straight line. Thus, the tides produced areq the greatest range. + Itoccurs twice in a month, either in conjunction (at the time of the new moon) or in opposition (at the time of full moon). +The Sun being so far away from the Earth, has its tidal pull ony about half of that of the Moon. Hence, the Sun alone is incapable producing the usual tides by it. + But the Sun can help the Moon in producing a tide. So, on Moon and new Moon days (is twice during the lunar month), the Sun and the Moon exert their combined gravitational force on the Earth causing a tide with a great tidal range than that of ordinary _ tides known as Spring Tides. The High Tide is very high and th Low Tide is very low. + When the Moon is nearest to the Earth in its orbit around the Ean. (Perigee), the spring tides are still higher and if this situation occu, round about 1st January, when the Earth is nearest to the Sax (Perihelion), the highest spring tides are produced. See Fig. 12.4.se" ives round the Barth on ite orbit having, different et? 008 On ig and the Moon are at right angles to one another ‘es oe je Earth anise" al pull of the Sun and the Moon work in opposite ne The gravitational pull of the Sun opposes that of vt oe ig Moon days, when the Moon in at the first and last ons s, the High Tide is lower and the Low Tide is higher sch CAS" nes. These are called the Neap Tides. oF TIDES - estroy the oast lines and move debris to the sea. They help ides ks and inlets jidal currents prevent the formation of deltas by rivers but . a - help the rivers in forming their lower flood plains, th ides help t . far into the cori ‘ pring salt water. The constant motion of tidal salty water tides The Hees ports of cold countries from becoming icebound in winter. gular rhythmic motion of sea water in the form of high and The : ides helps large ships to enter the harbour ofa shallow sea and ‘w eturn with the tides. The fishermen sail out to the open sea low tide and return with the high tides. keep the harbours clean by removing sewage and prev tor during the low-lying area is trapped for manufacturing salt. Salt is produced in salt pans along, the west coast of India especially in Gujarat. -tidal energy is harnessed to produce electricity. It is not only produced in Britain and France but also in Gujarat, along the gulf of Kuchchh in India. . Some of the sea creatures like oysters, mussels, ctc., are attached to the rocky front of the sea coast. They remain in their fixed position, so, they depend on tides only to bring them food. The high tides bring food for them, which help in their growth. OCEAN CURRENTS The regular movements of water from one part to another in a defined direction in the surface water of an ocean are called Ocean Currents. The ocean currents are generated mainly due to variations in the temperature and salinity in the ocean water. along the sea coasts are flooded and the tidal * ate