tideprediction

Tide prediction is the process of forecasting the times and heights of high and low tides. This is primarily based on astronomical factors, with the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun being the dominant forces. The Moon's gravitational influence is stronger due to its closer proximity to Earth, causing bulges in the oceans on both the side facing the Moon and the opposite side. The Sun's gravity also contributes, though to a lesser extent.

These bulges create the high tides. As the Earth rotates, different locations pass through these bulges, experiencing high tide. The areas between the bulges experience low tide. The cycle of tides is also influenced by the Earth's rotation and the Moon's orbital path around the Earth. The typical pattern is two high tides and two low tides approximately every 24 hours and 50 minutes, which is the length of a lunar day.

Beyond these primary forces, other factors can affect local tide levels. These include the shape of the coastline, the depth of the water (bathymetry), atmospheric pressure, and prevailing winds. These secondary influences can cause variations in the timing and amplitude of tides at specific locations, making precise local prediction more complex. Specialized software and tidal charts are used to calculate these predictions, often incorporating historical data and complex harmonic analysis to account for all significant contributing factors.