Exploring Our Fluid Earth

This introduction to tides gives an overview of the concepts and activities explored in this unit and describes how these investigations build an understanding of ocean literacy.

Tides rise and fall daily in predictable patterns. Scientists and mariners use specific terminology to describe a variety of tide properties.

Gravity from the sun and the moon pull on Earth’s water to form tides.

The tides rise and fall daily due to the rotation of the earth. Tidal height is caused by a combination of gravitational forces from the moon and the sun.

The predictable movements of the earth, the sun, and the moon allow us to accurately forecast future tides.

Different coastlines have distinct patterns in their daily tides. Tidal patterns determine tidal currents.