PLEASE READ ASSIGNMENT FULLY BEFORE YOU AGREE TO DO IT. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS AND COMPLETE BY REQUESTED DUE TIME. ----> THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ATTACHED THAT MUST BE ANSWERED AS WELL

The Tides and Phases of the Moon

Introduction:

The ocean tides are related to the phases of the moon. Both the Sun and Moon exert gravitational force on the water in the ocean. The Moon is closer to the Earth and exerts more gravitation force on the surface of the ocean than the Sun. The force of the lunar gravity “pulls” the water to one side of the Earth. A second tidal bulge exists on the opposite side of the Earth because of the centrifugal force created by the Earth-Moon rotation. One bulge is on the side of the Earth facing the Moon and the other is on the opposite of the Moon. As the Earth rotates into the bulge of water, the tide rises and this is high tide or flood tide. As the Earth rotates out of the bulge of water, the tide falls and this is low tide or ebb tide. The Sun’s gravity has less effect on the Earth so the Sun does create tidal bulges, but they are smaller than the Moon’s tidal bulges. Every two weeks the Sun and Moon align during the New and Full moon. The tidal bulges are combined and create higher tides. The neap tides have a lower tidal range and occur during the first and third quarter of the Moon.

As points on the Earth’s surface rotate in and out of the tidal bulges, different tidal patterns with different periods can occur. Areas with semi-diurnal tides experience two high and two low tides of similar height daily. Some areas experience mixed tides. This pattern is a semi-diurnal pattern that has two high and two low tides daily, but the tidal ranges differ. One set of high and low tides exhibit a greater tidal range than the other set. This pattern is associated with mid latitudes. Areas that have diurnal tides have one high and one low tide daily. The daily tidal pattern is influenced by the shape of the basin and how the wave that is the tide moves around the basin.

Go to the following link and read the information on tides.

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides09_monitor.html

Analyzing Tide Graphs

PLEASE READ ASSIGNMENT FULLY BEFORE YOU AGREE TO DO IT. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS AND COMPLETE BY REQUESTED DUE TIME. ----> THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ATTACHED THAT MUST BE ANSWERED AS WELL 1

The figure above is the tide graph for Clearwater Beach, FL that depicts the tides for approximately one month. Using this chart, answer the following questions:

Typically, how many high tides and how many low tides are there during each day.

Go to http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions/viewDailyPredictions.jsp?Stationid=8726724

The heights of tides have to be measured from a standard elevation called a datum. What is the datum for the tidal graphs at Clearwater Beach? What does this mean?

Is there the same or a different elevation difference between each set of high and low tides during one 24-hour period? What is this pattern called (see your textbook)? How is this pattern different from the tidal pattern found on the Atlantic Coast of Florida? What is this tidal pattern called? How is this tidal pattern different from the tidal pattern found along the coast of Mississippi? What is this tidal pattern called?

On which day do you find the greatest difference in height between high and low tides? What is the difference in feet? On which days do you find the least difference in height between high and low tides? What is the difference in feet?

Go to the following webpage: http://www.moonconnection.com/moon-may-2012.phtml

Choose the “Tides Explained “in the Topics section. Describe how the height of the tides are related to the phases of the moon.

What are Spring and Neap Tides and how are they related to the phases of the Moon? Are the tidal cycles related to a solar or a lunar month? Explain your answer?

Go to the following link:

Clearwater Beach Station Information

What is the diurnal tidal range at Clearwater Beach? What does this mean?

Describe what is happening to sea level at Clearwater Beach. How many inches has sea level risen at Clearwater Beach?

Go to the following link and watch the short video on storm surges.

https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/hurricanestormsurge/

Describe a storm surge. How is it different from a tide? What do you think would happen to the Gulf Coast Barrier Islands and the Tampa Metropolitan area if a hurricane came directly up Tampa Bay?

Note: The link may appear as a download at the bottom of your screen.