Tidal range is the vertical distance through which the tide rises and falls, the difference in water height between low tide and high tide, or, quite simply, the “size” of tide. The range of tide varies from place to place as well as from time to time (Davies, 1972; Zenkovich, 1967).
Tides vary in size through time because of variations in the distance and direction of the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun. Greater ranges ( spring tides) occur when the sun and moon align with the earth in a position called syzygy (pronounced siź-eh-jee). Greater ranges occur also when the moon is at perigee, its closest approach to the earth. The largest tidal ranges, occurring when these factors combine, are called perigean spring tides. Perigean spring tides add about 40% to mean tidal ranges.
Tidal size varies from place to place because of differences in both coastal configuration and sea-floor topography. Tides range between 1–2 m on open oceanic coasts, reaching more than 2 m where the...
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References
Davies, J. L., 1972. Geographical Variation in Coastal Development. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 204p.
Rosen, P. S., 1977. Increasing shoreline erosion rates with decreasing tidal range in the Virginia Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Science 18 383–386 (See also Virginia Institute of Marine Science Contribution No. 735).
Zenkovich, V. P., 1967. Processes of Coastal Development. New York: Wiley Interscience, 738p.
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© 1982 Hutchinson Ross Publishing Company
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Stembridge, J.E. (1982). Tidal range and variation . In: Beaches and Coastal Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30843-1_467
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30843-1_467
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