Movements of Ocean Water

Distinct physical properties, such as temperature, salinity, density, and so on, result in different types of ocean water flows. The movement of ocean water is influenced by external factors such as the sun, moon, and winds.

There are three types of main ocean currents. They are as follows

1. Waves.
2. Tides.
3. Currents in the Ocean.

The tide is a vertical flow of ocean water, whereas ocean currents and waves are horizontal motions of ocean waters.

Waves

• Waves are the oscillatory movements that cause the water’s surface to rise and fall
• Waves are a type of horizontal water movement in the ocean
• They are the energy that travels across the ocean surface, not the water itself
• The wind provides this energy for the waves
• During a wave, each water particle flows in a circular motion
• A wave has two major parts: the crest and the trough
• The crest is the higher component of the wave, while the trough is the lower part

Tides

1. The daily rise and fall of sea levels generated by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the sun, the moon, and the earth’s rotation are referred to as tide.
2. They are a vertical movement of waters, as opposed to movements of ocean water induced by meteorological factors such as winds and changes in air pressure.
3. Surges are water movements generated by meteorological effects such as those mentioned above, and they are not regular like tides.
4. The moon’s gravitational pull is mostly responsible for the occurrence of tides (the moon’s gravitational attraction on the earth is greater than the sun’s).
5. In addition to the moon’s gravitational pull, the sun’s gravitational pull and the centrifugal force caused by the earth’s rotation are other factors at work.
6. The Bay of Fundy in Canada has the world’s highest tides.

Flow Tide and EBB Tide

• A flow tide, also known as a flood tide, is a rising or entering tide that causes a high tide
• It is hence the interval between low and high tides (i.e., the rising time)
• An ebb tide is a receding or outgoing tide
• The time between high and low tide when water rushes away from the shore is known as the ebb tide

Types of Tides

1. TIDES DETERMINED BY FREQUENCY
2. Semi-diurnal Tide: This tidal pattern is the most prevalent, with two high tides and two low tides each day.
3. Diurnal Tides: Each day, there is just one high tide and one low tide.
4. Mixed Tide: Mixed tides are tides that have different heights. They’re mostly found along North America’s west coast.
5. Tides determined by the positions of the Sun, Moon, and earth
6. Spring Tides: The height of the tide will be greater than normal when the sun, moon, and earth are all in a straight line. Spring tides are what they’re called. They happen twice a month, once during the full moon (Poornima) and once during the new moon (Amavasya).
7. Neap Tides: Normally, after seven days of spring tides, the sun and moon align themselves with the earth at a straight angle. As a result, the sun’s and moon’s gravitational forces tend to cancel one other out. The tides will be lower than typical during this time, which is known as neap tides. 

Tide’s Magnitude

The moment in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to the Earth is called perigee. During this time, there are extremely high and low tides.

Apogee refers to the point in the moon’s orbit when it is the furthest away from the Earth. During this time, tidal ranges will be substantially lower than usual.

The perihelion is the point on the earth’s orbit where it is closest to the sun (around January 3rd). During this time, there are extremely high and low tides.

Aphelion: The distance between the earth and the sun at its farthest point (around July 4th). During this time, tidal ranges are substantially lower than they are on average.

Tides and Their Effects

1. Tides serve as a connection between the port and the open ocean. Some of the world’s most important ports, such as London’s Thames port and Kolkata’s Hugli port, are located on rivers far from the sea shore.
2. The tidal stream washes river sediments away and delays the expansion of the delta.
3. It raises the water depth, making it easier for ships to navigate to ports securely.
4. It’s also capable of generating electricity.

Conclusion

Over half of the world’s oxygen is produced by the ocean, which also absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. By carrying heat from the equator to the poles, the ocean, which covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and distributes heat from the equator to the poles, governs our temperature and weather patterns. There are various types of ocean movements like waves and tides that help in carrying out these functions.