Tides

Four elements cause tides: the attractive force of the Moon; the pull of the Sun; gravity; the centrifugal
forces caused by the rotation of the Earth. Of these the force of the Moon is the greatest. If the sea
were of equal depth and if there were no land masses, the tides would follow the movement of the
Moon around the Earth and vary slightly according to the relative positions of the Earth, the Sun and the
Moon. However, the sea varies in depth and continents and islands have an effect on the general
pattern, thus there can be tides which occur once a day in some places and four times a day in others. A
daily or diurnal tide occurs in a 24-hour period of oscillation, that is, one high water and one low water a
day. A 12-hour period of oscillation means two high and two low waters a day; while a 6-hour period
produces four high and four low waters a day. These differences may occur at places quite close
together.

Sometimes a high water is very high and low water is very low. When this happens the tides are known
as spring tides. These occur when the Moon is either new or full and its attractive force is combined
with the pulling power of the Sun.

When the Moon is in its first or last quarter, however, it is at right angles to the Sun, so that some of its
pull is neutralized. This condition produces the neap tides, when their high waters are lowest and the
low waters are highest.

Between these two tides the height of waters will either increase or diminish progressively.

We have high slack water when the tide is at its highest and just about to turn. An ebb tide and flood
tide (the reflux and rising of water flux) are words indicating low and high waters, respectively. The tide
is said to be at its flood when it is at its highest, and therefore slack.

The range of any particular tide is the difference between the levels at low and high waters while its
stand is the period recorded when no rise or fall in the height of water can be detected.

the pull of the Sun

the pulling power of the Sun
the pull is neutralised
the attractive force of
occur
in its first/last quarter
at right angles to
at its highest
at its flood
at low and high waters
just about to turn
Answer the following questions
1.-What are the elements causing tides

2.-Why do the tides vary greatly?

3.-What is a diurnal and a semi-diurnal tide?

4.- Explain the difference between the neap a the spring tide.

5.-When does the slack water occur?

6.- What is the difference between the ebb tide and the flood tide?

7.-What is the range and the stand of the tide?

Currents
In the Atlantic Ocean, the two patterns of trade winds on either side of the equator, the north-east and
south-east trades, give rise to two westward moving drifts, known as the equatorial currents. When the
Southern Equatorial Current reaches the coast of South America at about Cape St. Roque, it divides into
two parts, one branch, the Brazil Current, flows south following the coast as far as the River Plate,
where it comes under the influence of the strong westerly winds known as the Roaring Forties. It then
flows eastward across the South Atlantic as far as the Cape of Good Hope, part continuing into the
Indian Ocean, part being deflected northward by the African land mass to become the Benguella
Current. The other part of the Southern Equatorial Current flows north and joins the Northern
Equatorial Current.
These two drifts, blocked by the shape of the land, escape into the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico
where, unable to continue their drift westward because of the total land block formed by the Isthmus of
Panama, they raise the level of the sea. This congestion of water must escape, and the only direction
available is northeast up the coast of North America. This is the Gulf Stream. It is deflected off the coast
of Newfoundland by the south-flowing Labrador Current and flows eastward across the North Atlantic
until it is blocked by the coast of Europe, where it divides.
In the Indian Ocean, north of the equator, the dominant factor in the creation of currents is the
monsoon winds. The currents in the open sea change with them, forming north-east and south-west
drifts. The Mozambique Current is one of the most powerful currents in the world at times flowing at a
rate of 4-5 knots. As soon as it reaches open water south of the Cape of Good Hope it meets the west
wind drift caused by the Roaring Forties and joins it to form a strong east-flowing stream.
The Pacific currents are, in general, less pronounced than those of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The
North Equatorial Current, a westerly stream caused by the action of the north-east trade winds, splits
into two parts when it meets the Philippine Islands, one part flowing north and repeating very much the
characteristic pattern of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic. It is known as the Kuro Siwo or Black Stream.
The setting, or direction, of a current is that point of the compass towards which it flows, the drift of a
current is the rate in knots at which it runs. Information on currents is given in the Current Atlas of the
World and is also included in the appropriate Sailing Directions.
(Boris Pritchard, 1995)

meets the west wind (no preposition is needed)

joins the Northern Equatorial Current

Flows north/south/ northward/eastward….

East-flowing stream

Divides into Preposition: into

Splits into Active verb , neither passive nor reflective form
are needed

Answer the questions:

1.-What are the basic kinds of currents?

2.-Which currents or drifts arise as a result of the Trade Winds in the Atlantic Ocean?

3.-What are the ‘Roaring Forties’?

4.-What does the southern Equatorial Current divide into? Describe the flow of each.

5.-Why does the level of the sea in the Gulf of Mexico rise?

6.-What is the source of the Gulf Stream?

7.-Describe the flow of the Gulf Stream.

8.-How are the currents in the Indian Ocean created?

9.-Describe the characteristics of the Mozambique Current.

10.- What are the basic drifts on the Pacific?

11.-Which current in the Pacific is similar to the Gulf Stream?

12.-Where can the information on currents be found?

13.-Give the two other names for “current”.

Supply the following adjectives as required: (mean, variable, moving, tidal, large, prevailing)

Ocean Currents (from Pilot Chart)

The arrows on the chart are approximations of _______________________direction and th figures are
approximations of the _____________________speed expressed in knots. The number over the arrow is
the _____________________drift in knots.
The Gulf Stream, relatively narrow and fast ________________________, does not have its position
rigidly fixed but may meander.
Permanent currents in the Sargasso Sea are relatively weak and _______________. _______________
Currents predominate in nearshore areas in various straits and channels and in bays, i.e. where tidal
ranges are _______________________