Dropping In Surf Show Podcast Can Tides Increase the Power of a Wave
Jan 26, 2023
They dig into how the moon and sun create tidal bulges and why lunar timing matters. Listeners hear why spring and neap tides form and how orbital distance changes tidal size. The conversation covers how coast shape, bays and weather amplify or delay tides. Practical parts explain how tidal range, rate of swing and slack windows affect whether a surf spot will break.
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Lunar Day Makes Tides Shift 50 Minutes Daily
- Most places experience two highs and two lows each lunar day (semi-diurnal) because a lunar day is 24h50m.
- Tide changes therefore occur about every 6h12m30s and highs repeat ~50 minutes later each solar day.
Continents Sculpt Local Tidal Patterns
- Continental shapes, bays and inlets distort global tidal bulges and create diurnal, semi-diurnal or mixed tides regionally.
- If Earth had no continents, all locations would see equal two-high/two-low tides per lunar day.
Weather Alters Predicted Tide Levels
- Local wind and atmospheric pressure change observed tide levels by pushing water onshore or depressing sea level.
- Offshore winds exaggerate low tide; onshore winds and low pressure raise tides above predictions.