Tides & Currents

Front

What are tides?

Back

Tides are the regular rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun on the Earth's oceans.

Front

What causes ocean currents?

Back

Ocean currents are caused by wind, the Earth's rotation, temperature differences, and salinity variations in the water.

Front

What is a spring tide?

Back

A spring tide is a tide that occurs when the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned, resulting in the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.

Front

What is a neap tide?

Back

A neap tide is a tide that occurs when the moon is at a right angle to the Earth and sun, resulting in the lowest high tides and the highest low tides.

Front

How does the moon affect tides?

Back

The moon's gravitational pull creates bulges in the Earth's oceans, leading to high tides in the areas closest to the moon.

Front

Why are warm ocean currents important?

Back

Warm ocean currents help regulate climate by transferring heat from the equator towards the poles, influencing weather patterns.

Front

What is the difference between high tide and low tide?

Back

High tide is the maximum level of the sea, while low tide is the minimum level of the sea, occurring in a regular cycle.

Front

What role does the sun play in tides?

Back

The sun's gravitational pull also affects tides, but its influence is less than that of the moon due to its greater distance from Earth.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving objects, such as ocean currents, caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Front

What are the effects of tides on marine life?

Back

Tides create intertidal zones that provide unique habitats for various marine organisms, influencing their feeding and breeding patterns.