Tidal Theory

The main causes of tides

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 The main causes
• The main factors causing tides is the
combined effect of the gravitational forces
exerted on the earth by the moon and the
sun
• The approximate ratio of these forces can
be represented as 7 : 3 respectively
• Tide is also caused by the centrifugal
forces produced by the earth and the
moon
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• Under ideal conditions the earth is
considered to have a uniform covering of
water with no landmass
• The difference in the gravitational and
centrifugal forces exerted on the earth’s
surface by the moon causes the water to pile
up towards the moon and also in the
hemisphere opposite to the moon
LW

HW HW

LW 3
•The earth is effectively rotating in an ellipsoid
of water and any point will be carried round as
the earth rotates

•This applies to every position (Port) on the

earths surface

•As the earth rotates once every 24 hours we

would expect point to see two HW’s and two
LW’s.

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• However, as the moon is in orbit around the
earth, each day the moon moves further along
it’s orbit and the earth takes an extra 50
minutes to be back in conjunction with the
moon
LW

HW P HW

LW

• Therefore a Lunar day is 24hours 50mins 5

• Time between two HW’s is approximately
12hrs 25mins

• The time between successive HW and LW is

approximately 6hrs 12mins

• This means that on some days (24 hours) it

is possible to experience one HW or one LW
as the next HW or LW occurs the following
day
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 Spring Tides
• The tides with maximum range are known
as Spring Tides
• Spring tides occur at fortnightly intervals
• They occur under the following
circumstances:-
+7 +7 +3

Full Moon New Moon

P SUN

Opposition Conjunction
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 Spring Tides
+7 +7 +3

Full Moon New Moon

P SUN

Opposition Conjunction
The above figure represents the relative
positions of the Sun and Moon at Spring tides
This is when the tidal generating forces of the
Sun & Moon are acting together to produce the
highest High tides and the lowest Low tides
The Moon is said to be either in conjunction or
opposition
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 Neap Tides
• The tides with minimum range are known as
Neap Tides
• They also occur at fortnightly intervals
+7 +3
1st. Quarter

HW

SUN
LW P

+7

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Quadrature
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 Admiralty Tide Tables
• The predicted heights and times are
shown in the Admiralty Tide Tables (ATT)
• The predictions are based on
observations over at least one year and
are calculated for average
meteorological conditions
• Other factors which affect heights of tide
but which cannot be taken into
consideration in the tables are barometric
pressure and wind
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 Wind (page ii)
• An onshore wind will pile up the water
against the coast
• An offshore wind will push the water away
from the coast and therefore tend to lower
the coastal water level
• Winds blowing along the coast will set up
long waves (storm surges) which will raise
or lower the level depending upon the
position of the crest or trough
• In 1953 a storm surge of more than 3.0m
ran along the Dutch coast 12
 Barometric pressure (page vii)

• Sailing Directions give the average

barometric pressure for various areas and
if the actual pressure is less than this the
sea level will tend to be higher
• When the pressure is greater than the
average the sea level will tend to be lower
• Variance of up to 0.3m have been
recorded
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 Time (page ix)
• There are 24 Time Zones (15° per zone)
• On land a uniform time is adopted for
convenience throughout a given country –
This time is usually based on the time
zone that the majority of the country lies
within and is known as Standard time
• Standard times are given in the Nautical
Almanac
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 Time (page ix)
• Time zones in the ATT are:
• Negative for countries East of Greenwich,
thus -0400 means 4 hours before GMT
• Positive for countries West of Greenwich’
thus +0600 means 6 hours after GMT

• In the UK all predictions are in GMT

• When British Summer Time is being kept,
one hour should be added to the predicted
time 15
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 Required H.O.T
• The easiest way to calculate the required
height of tide:

• H.O.T. + Charted depth = Draft + UKC

• See next slide

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 Bridge
Clearance
Charted Ht

Air Draft
MHWS

Freeboard
HoT Draft
Chart Datum
Charted Depth Seabed
UKC
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• UKC = [HOT + Charted depth] – Draft

• UKC + Draft = Charted depth + HOT

• Air clearance =
[Charted Height + (MHWS – HOT) ] – Air
Draft

• Air clearance + Air Draft = Charted Height +

MHWS – HOT
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 Charted depth + HOT = UKC + Draft

HOT = UKC + Draft - Charted depth

HoT Draft
Chart Datum
Charted Depth Seabed
UKC
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 Old SQA Tide questions
Bridge
Clearance
Charted Height

Air Draft

MHWS
HoT
Chart Datum
Seabed
Air clearance + Air Draft =
Charted Height + MHWS – HOT 25
 New SQA Tide Questions
Bridge
Clearance
Charted Height

Air Draft

HAT
Table V part 2 HoT
Chart Datum
Seabed
Air clearance + Air Draft =
Charted Height + HAT – HOT 26
• END

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