Add Earth, moon, and sun, then mix in the ocean. Tides and how they work By: Bianca Maddox Tides and how they work By: Bianca Maddox

What are Tides? Tides are the rise and fall of the ocean. The force of tides affect objects on Earth, the atmosphere, and Earth itself. Tides are caused by the difference in strength of gravitational forces at different points on Earth. This involves the Earth, moon and the sun.

How Tides Work Tides are caused by the moons gravitational force, which causes water to bulge on both sides of the Earth.

Gravitational Forces The gravitational forces are the strongest for areas directly below the moon and on the opposite side of the Earth. The moons gravitational force causes the water to bulge on those sides of the Earth.

Lunar and Solar Tides The sun has smaller tides than a lunar one. The moon and sun together will create spring and neap tides. Spring tides are very high and low tides, which occur when the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth. Neap tides are the opposite. They are very low high tides and low low tides.

Diagram of Spring and Neap Tides

Bay of Fundy The Bay of Fundy is a place were the highest tides occurs. The tides can raise up to 50 ft. The time between high and low tides is 6 hrs. and 13 min. There are different phenomenon's for which the tides occur: tidal bores, rapids, and horizontal tidal effects.

Tidal Bores at Fundy Tidal bores are when tides meet. This creates three high waves and wild rapids. The tides can cause whirlpools, rapids, and tidal bores.

Horizontal tidal effects Horizontal tidal effects cause the tide to sink back three miles. Since the bay is shallower and narrower near the upper part, the water rises higher.

Importance of measuring sea level The importance of measuring sea level is to measure the height of everything on land. Mt. Everest is an example. It is also important because you know when the ocean is rising or falling, like for tides.

The sea level is measured by time gauges, which is a 1 ft. in diameter pipe with a small hole between the waterline. Satellites are used too. Measuring Sea Level

Difficulty with measuring sea level The difficulty with measuring sea level is the the sea is always moving. The water level is changed every second by waves, hours by tide, week by the change in orbit of the Earth and other planets, then by year because the ocean rises 2 mil per year.

Global Warming Global warming is causing the temperature to rise. The temperature has risen 1/2 degrees C in the past 100 years. That is not the only thing that has risen, the sea level has rose 6 to 8 inches in the last century.It is predicted that in 2100, the ocean will rise 50 cm.

Melting of Polar ice caps The temperature rise is causing the icebergs to melt. Icebergs are chunks of glaciers that have broke off. The higher temperature is what is weakening the glaciers.

Melting Places Antarctica carries 90% of the World’s ice. If all the ice melted, ocean would rise 200 ft. If North Pole melted, no change in sea level. If Greenland melted, there would be a 20 ft increase in sea level.

Tidal Waves-Tsunami Tidal waves are very high ocean waves that are caused by the sudden movement of water. Such as an underwater earthquake, undersea landslide, and a meteor or asteroid strike. Tidal wave is not a good expression since tides are caused by the moon and tsunami’ are caused by the sudden movements of the ocean. It is called tidal because it looks like tide that crashes as a large wave. Tsunamis can cause major damage and kill people.

Interest in tsunamis Scientists interest: measuring the large waves help understand structure and nature of the ocean. Culture interest: it has an impact on life for a long period of time. Technology interest: warning sensors systems help provide notice to when one is coming.

Indonesian Tsunami 2004 On December 31, 2004 a tsunami was caused by an undersea earthquake. This was the fourth largest earthquake in the world that measured a 9 on the Richter scale. The earthquake was caused by a tectonic plate sliding under another. The wave was km in length and 100 km in width.

Picture of Tidal Wave Travel

About me My name is Bianca Maddox, otherwise known as Tonka. I love the roller coasters at Six Flags like Batman, Superman and Ninja! I’d ride them forever!! And I like the 1980 Michael Jackson! HEEHEE!

Bibliography Conan-Danies,Richard.clearlyexplained.com/nature/ earth/disaters/tsunamis.html Flick, E. Reinhard. World Book Encyclopedia Hill, Alison. jun/tides.html ____.Science.howstuffworks.com/question72. htm&url= RICKSPAGE/MounlTides.html