Tidal currents occur in conjunction with the rise and fall of the tide. The vertical motion of the tides near the shore causes the water to move horizontally, creating currents. When a tidal current moves toward the land and away from the sea, it “floods.”.
So, how are tides and currents related to each other?
Currents put motion in the ocean! Tides involve water moving up and down; currents involve the movement of water back and forth. Currents are driven by several factors. Tides are one of these. Wind, the shape of the land, and even water temperature are other facts that drive currents. Why study tides and currents?
Tides involve water moving up and down; currents involve the movement of water back and forth. Currents are driven by several factors. Tides are one of these.
We should dig a little deeper! Difference Between Tides and Currents. Tides are big rise and fall of ocean water caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and sun. Currents are waves in ocean water caused by winds, temperature difference, and the topography of the bottom of the ocean surface. Waves move from side to side that can be left to right or right to left whereas tides move up and down.
What causes tides to move horizontally?
The vertical motion of the tides near the shore causes the water to move horizontally, creating currents. When a tidal current moves toward the land and away from the sea, it “floods.” When it moves toward the sea away from the land, it “ebbs.”.
This begs the inquiry “Where do tides come from and where do they go?”
Some think that Tides start in the ocean and move towards the coast, where they appear as the regular rise and fall of the sea surface. How much the water level changes over the day varies depending on where you are and what day it is. Currents put motion in the ocean!
Although tides and tidal currents don’t have much impact in the open oceans, they can create a rapid current of up to 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) per hour when they flow in and out of narrower areas like bays, estuaries and harbors [source: Skinner].
Cardano downtrend still in effect, but the tide is turning around. Cardano price has been downtrend since September, but support is persistent at around $1.14.ADA price has bulls jumping on each occasion the monthly S1 support level gets hit. Expect a bullish breakout into the Christmas period and at the start of 2022.
The relationship between the masses of the Earth, moon, and sun and their distances to each other play critical roles in affecting tides and the currents they produce. Click the image for a larger view. Tidal currents are the only type of current affected by the interactions of the Earth, sun, and moon.
Where do I get NOAA tides and currents data?
CO-OPS provides the national infrastructure, science, and technical expertise to monitor, assess, and distribute tide, current, water level, and other coastal oceanographic products and services that support NOAA’s mission of environmental stewardship and environmental assessment and prediction. CO-OPS provides operationally sound observations and monitoring.