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Coastal Landscapes

Tides, currents and wave types

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 1 Section A

Overview

Diurnal tidal cycle, formation of neap tides and tidal range.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What causes tides?

Key term

What is a diurnal tidal cycle?

Key term

How does a semi-diurnal tide differ from a diurnal one?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What causes tides?

    Model answer

    Tides result from the gravitational pull of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun on the oceans. The Earth's rotation carries each place through the resulting bulges of water.

  2. 2

    What is a diurnal tidal cycle?

    Model answer

    A diurnal cycle gives one high tide and one low tide in each tidal day of about 24 hours 50 minutes. Parts of the Gulf of Mexico experience diurnal tides.

  3. 3

    How does a semi-diurnal tide differ from a diurnal one?

    Model answer

    A semi-diurnal regime gives two high tides and two low tides each tidal day. Almost all of the UK coastline is semi-diurnal.

  4. 4

    When do spring tides occur and why?

    Model answer

    Spring tides occur at new and full moon, when the Sun and Moon are aligned. The two pulls combine, so the tidal range is at its greatest.

  5. 5

    Explain the formation of neap tides.

    Model answer

    Neap tides occur at the first and last quarter of the Moon. The Sun and Moon pull at right angles, so their effects partly cancel and the range is smallest.

  6. 6

    Define tidal range.

    Model answer

    Tidal range is the vertical difference in water level between high tide and low tide. The Bay of Fundy in Canada reaches about 16 m, the largest range in the world.

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