Question 1 : Differentiate between tide and tsunami.

tide tsunami
The regular rise and fall of sea levels caused A series of ocean waves caused by large-scale
by the gravitational forces of the moon and disturbances, such as underwater
the sun. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or
landslides.
Primarily caused by the gravitational pull of Caused by geological events, mainly
the moon and sun on Earth's oceans. underwater seismic activity.
Occurs regularly, usually twice a day, with Generated by sudden geological events,
predictable cycles. including underwater earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, or landslides.
Occur regularly, typically twice daily Occur sporadically and unpredictably, with
(semidiurnal) or once daily (diurnal), potentially devastating effects when they do.
depending on the location.
Tidal waves are typically broad and have a • Consist of a series of waves (wave
long wavelength, but they are not "waves" in trains) with very long wavelengths,
the traditional sense; they represent a traveling at high speeds (up to 500-
change in water level. 800 km/h) across deep water.

Cause gradual and predictable changes in Can cause sudden and catastrophic
coastal environments, influencing destruction, leading to loss of life and
ecosystems and human activities. property, and altering landscapes
dramatically.
Each tidal cycle lasts about 12 hours and 25 Waves can continue for several hours, but
minutes, with a predictable pattern. individual wave heights can vary and are not
predictable in timing.
Generally range from a few centimeters to Can reach heights of 30 meters or more
several meters, depending on the location when they approach shallow coastal areas.
and phase of the moon.
Affected by coastal geography, ocean depth, influenced by the underwater topography
and local weather conditions. and geology of the ocean floor, as well as the
nature of the disturbance that generated
them.
Predicted using astronomical data and can be Early warning systems exist, but predicting
forecasted accurately, allowing for the exact timing and impact of a tsunami
preparation. remains challenging.
Promote nutrient cycling and support marine Can lead to habitat destruction, pollution,
habitats through regular flooding and and long-term ecological impacts due to
exposure. debris and saltwater intrusion

Question 2: Define tides and discuss the various tides of ocean.

Definition of tide:
The rise and the fall of seawater due to the gravitational force(centripetal) of sun and the moon are called tides.
According to P.R.Pinet ,
Tides are waves with very long wave length much longer than ordinary wind wave that causes sea level to rise and fall
with extraordinary regularity . In fact these are the most uniformly varying phenomenon in the ocean.
• Tides – periodic raising and lowering of
ocean sea level
• Occurs daily
• Caused by combination of gravity and
motion between Earth, Moon, and Sun
• Isaac Newton’s gravitational laws explain relationship
• Tides are the rhythmic rise and fall of sea
level.
• Tides are very long and regular shallow-
water waves
• Tides are caused by gravitational
attraction of the Sun, Moon, and Earth
• Different tidal patterns exist.
Types of tide in ocean :
The table below briefs the types of tides followed by detailed explanations:

Types of Tides

Tides Based on Frequency Semi-Diurnal Tides

Diurnal Tides

Mixed

Tides Based on the Position of Earth, Sun, and the Moon Spring Tides

Neap Tides
Semi-Diurnal Tides
A semi-diurnal tidal cycle is the one with two nearly equal high tides and two low tides each day. The interval
between the high and the low tides is of around 12 hours and 25 minutes. Semi-Diurnal Tides are most widespread in
the Indian Ocean. The other prevalent coasts where semi-diurnal tides are experiences are:
• Eastern African Coast
• Bay of Bengal

Diurnal Tides
It means four tides in a day. Two tides by the sun and two by the moon. Spring Tide It is an exceptionally high tide
generated by the complementary factor played by the Sun with respect to the moon. It should be noted that when
Sun, Moon, and Earth are in the same line, the position is known as the Syzygy. This syzygy can be of 2 types :
1. Conjunction: when the moon and sun are on the same side
2. Opposition: When the moon and sun are on the opposite side In both of these conditions, the magnitude of
the tide will be equally high.
Mixed Tides
A tidal cycle with two unequal high and low tides lead to the formation of the mixed tidal cycle, or simply called mixed
tide. This tidal cycle has both semi-diurnal and diurnal oscillations. It is widely observed in the Gulf of Mexico and the
Caribbean Sea. Southeastern Brazilian coast also witnesses mixed tides.
Spring Tides
Spring tides are formed when the sun and the moon are in line with each other and pull the ocean surface in the
same direction. This leads to higher high tides and lowers low tides and such tide is called a spring tide. In a lunar
month, it occurs twice. It is also known by the name of ‘King Tide.’
Note: The aspirants should know that the spring season has nothing to do with spring tides. The word ‘Spring’ in
spring tides means ‘springing forth.’ These occur in full or new moon days. In both new moon or full moon days, the
sun’s gravitational pull is added to the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth, causing the oceans to bulge a bit more than
usual. This results in ‘higher’ high tides and ‘lower’ low tides.

Neap Tides
It occurs seven days after the spring tide. The prominent point is that the sun and the moon are at the right angle to
each other. This tide occurs during the first and the last quarter of the moon. The gravitational pull of the moon and
the resulting oceanic bulge is cancelled out by the gravitational pull of the sun and its resulting oceanic bulge. Also, in
contrast to spring tides, the high tides are ‘lower’ and the low tides are comparatively ‘higher’ in neap tides.
Question 3 : Discuss the origin and characteristics of different types of ocean tides.
Origin of tide: The origin of tides in the oceans is primarily concerned with the gravitational forces of the sun and the
moon. It may be pointed out that the earth rotates from west to east and revolves around the sun following an
elliptical orbit.
Similarly, the moon rotates from west to east and revolves around the earth (fig. 28.1) along an elliptical orbit so that
the distance between the moon and the earth changes (fig. 28.2) during different times in every month. The period of
the farthest distance between the moon and the earth (407,000 km) is called apogee while the period of the nearest
distance (356,000 km) is called perigee (fig. 28.2).
The surface of the earth with its diameter of 12,800 km (8,000 miles) is 6,400 km nearer to the moon than its centre.
The centre of the moon is 3,84,800 km (2,40,00 miles) away from the centre of the earth. The earth’s outer surface is
3,77,000 km (2,36,000 miles) away from the outer surface of the moon. It is evident that the earth’ s outer surface,
which is opposite to that surface of the earth which faces the moon (fig. 28.3T) is 3,90,400 km away from the moon’s
surface.
The gravitational force of the moon will be maximum at the earth’s surface facing the moon (at T in fig. 28.3) while it
will be minimum at the opposite side of the earth (at A in fig. 28.3). Consequently, the water of the earth’s surface
facing the moon is attracted and pulled and high tide occurs (fig. 28.3), High tide is also formed at the opposite side of
the earth (A in fig. 28.3) simultaneously because of the reactionary force (centrifugal) of the gravitational (centripetal)
force of the moon causing outward bulge of water.

Thus, two tides and ebbs are experienced twice at every place on the earth’s water surface within 24 hours. When the
sun, the earth and the moon are in the same line (at the time of full moon and new moon) their gravitational forces
work together and high tides are formed (fig. 28.4).
On the other hand, when the sun and the moon are at the position of right angle with reference to the earth (fig.
28.5), the gravitational forces of the sun and the moon work against each other and hence low tides are formed. This
situation occurs during the 8th day of each fortnight of a month.

On an average, every place experiences tides twice a day. Since the earth completes its rotation in roughly 24 hours,
every place should experience tide after 12 hours but this never happens. Each day tide is delayed by 26 minutes
because the moon also rotates on its axis (west to east) while revolving around the earth.
Since the earth rotates from west to east and hence the tide centre shifts westward. When the tide centre completes
one round, the moon’s position is ahead of the tide centre by that time because the moon also revolves around the
earth, with the result the tide centre takes another 52 minutes to come under the moon.
Thus, a particular tide centre takes 24 hours 52 minutes to come under the moon but by that time there is another
tide at the opposite side of the referred tide centre and this happens after 12 hours 26 minutes.
Question 4 : Does the Sun or the moon have greater influence on the tides on Earth?
The moon is a major influence on the Earth’s tides, but the sun also generates considerable tidal forces. Solar tides
are about half as large as lunar tides and are expressed as a variation of lunar tidal patterns, not as a separate set of
tides. When the sun, moon, and Earth are in alignment (at the time of the new or full moon), the solar tide has an
additive effect on the lunar tide, creating extra-high high tides, and very low, low tides—both commonly called spring
tides. One week later, when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, the solar tide partially cancels out
the lunar tide and produces moderate tides known as neap tides. During each lunar month, two sets of spring tides
and two sets of neap tides occur (Sumich, J.L., 1996).

The moon is a major influence on the Earth’s tides, but the sun also generates considerable tidal forces. Solar tides
are about half as large as lunar tides and are expressed as a variation of lunar tidal patterns, not as a separate set of
tides. When the sun, moon, and Earth are in alignment (at the time of the new or full moon), the solar tide has an
additive effect on the lunar tide, creating extra-high high tides, and very low, low tides—both commonly called spring
tides. One week later, when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, the solar tide partially cancels out
the lunar tide and produces moderate tides known as neap tides. During each lunar month, two sets of spring tides
and two sets of neap tides occur (Sumich, J.L., 1996).
Just as the angles of the sun, moon and Earth affect tidal heights over the course of a lunar month, so do their
distances to one another. Because the moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth, the distance between them
varies by about 31,000 miles over the course of a month. Once a month, when the moon is closest to the Earth (at
perigee), tide-generating forces are higher than usual, producing above-average ranges in the tides. About two weeks
later, when the moon is farthest from the Earth (at apogee), the lunar tide-raising force is smaller, and the tidal
ranges are less than average. A similar situation occurs between the Earth and the sun. When the Earth is closest to
the sun (perihelion), which occurs about January 2 of each calendar year, the tidal ranges are enhanced. When the
Earth is furthest from the sun (aphelion), around July 2, the tidal ranges are reduced (Sumich, J.L., 1996; Thurman,
H.V., 1994).
The elliptical orbits of the moon around the Earth and the Earth around the sun have a substantial effect on the the
Earth’s tides. Once a month, at perigee, when the moon is closest to the Earth, tide-generating forces are higher than
usual, producing above average ranges in the tides. About two weeks later, at apogee, when the moon is farthest
from the Earth, the lunar tide-raising force is smaller, and the tidal ranges are less than average. When the Earth is
closest to the sun (perihelion), around January 2 of the calendar year, tidal ranges are enhanced. At aphelion, when
the Earth is furthest from the sun, around July 2, tidal ranges are reduced (Sumich, J.L., 1996; Thurman, H.V., 1994).

Question 5 : During which of the tides above would the tidal range be lower?

The tidal range is typically lower during neap tides. Neap tides occur when the gravitational forces of the moon and
sun are perpendicular to each other, resulting in smaller differences between high and low tides. In contrast, spring
tides, which happen during the full and new moons, have a greater tidal range due to the alignment of the sun and
moon.
The tidal range is lower during neap tides because of the way the gravitational forces from the moon and sun interact.
1. Alignment: During neap tides, the moon is in its first or third quarter phase, which means the sun and moon
are at right angles relative to the Earth. This configuration causes their gravitational forces to partially cancel
each other out.
2. Gravitational Pull: The sun's gravity pulls the water toward it, while the moon's gravity pulls it in the opposite
direction. When these forces are aligned (as during spring tides), they combine to create higher high tides and
lower low tides, resulting in a larger tidal range.
3. Resulting Effect: In contrast, during neap tides, the opposing forces lead to lower high tides and higher low
tides, which minimizes the difference between them.
This is why the tidal range is reduced during neap tides compared to spring tides.