Tides

Tides

Tides 

• The regular rise and fall of water level in the world's ocean resulting from gravitational attraction of the Sun and the Moon and centrifugal force of the Earth's rotation is known as Tide.
• The combined gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon results in a bulge in ocean water in one direction, he centrifugal force due to the Earth's revolution pulls the water in opposite direction as another bulge.
• These bulges in one direction creates low water level in other direction.
• As the Earth rotates, this position of high and low water level changes across the surface.

Factors affecting tide 

1. Gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon.
2. Relative position of the Sun and the Moon.
3. Centrifugal force of the Earth's rotation.
4. Uneven distribution of water.
5. Ocean bottom topography.

Types of tides 

1.   Spring tide

• During the Spring tide the Sun, Moon and Earth are in straight line. This position is known as Sizygy. 
• During Spring tide, very high and very low tides are experienced.
• Spring tides occur during two conditions -

1. Conjunction, i.e., when moon is in between the Earth and the Sun (New Moon day)
2. Opposition, i.e., when earth is in between the moon and the sun (Full Moon day)

2.   Leap tide 

• They are experienced when the Sun and the Moon are in perpendicular direction which is known as quadrature.
• During leap tides, a smaller high tide and low tide is experienced.

Diurnal and Semi-diurnal tides - Tides occurring twice a day are known as Semi-diurnal tides whereas tides occurring once in a day are known as Diurnal tides.

Significance of tides 

1. Generation of tidal energy (where tidal range is very high, example - Gulf of Kutch)
2. Helpful for setting up ship-building industry.
3. In navigation for Tidal ports (ports which depend on tidal water because the water is not too deep in normal condition)
4. Natural cleansing of coastal regions.
5. Helps in maintaining rich biodiversity along the coastal regions.

Negative effects 

1. Coastal erosion
2. Restricts delta formation

PYQ 

Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among of the following.

1. Gravitational force of the Sun.
2. Gravitational force of the Moon.
3. Gravitational force of the Earth.
4. Centrifugal force of the Earth.

Ans - 1,2 and 4 only

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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

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