San Diego Tides
Name
____
The purpose of this activity is to show how to use a tidal chart to determine the type of tidal pattern for
San Diego. You will also examine the role of the Moon in the generation of tidal patterns.
The tidal chart handed-out in class shows the tides for San Diego for the month of May 2016.
The tidal pattern is shown in graphic form and the times and heights of the tides are listed for each day.
1. In general, how many tides (high and low) does San Diego experience on a daily basis?
What kind of tidal pattern is this?
Is the tidal range important in determining the tidal pattern? Explain!
2. How does the timing of the tides vary on a day-to-day basis?
Why does this happen?
3. What is meant by the term "tidal range"?
Calculate the tidal range for May 6-7 (remember, tidal day does not equal calendar day) and for May 29.
Tidal Range for May 6-7
Which tidal range is larger? Why?
Tidal Range for May 29
4. If the Moon did not exist, would the Earth still have tides?
If so, would these tides show a monthly pattern like we see now or would it be seasonal? Explain.
5. The tides have acted as brakes over time; resulting friction has caused Earth’s rotation to slow down.
If Earth had never had a Moon, would the Earth be currently spinning at a faster or slower rate?
Without a Moon, would our days thus be longer or shorter?
6. As you learned in class, the rotation of the Earth generates the Coriolis Effect.
Without a Moon, would the Earth have a stronger or weaker Coriolis Effect? Explain.