Earth Science Oceanography Tide Activity Using Real Tide Data printable pdf download

Earth Science Oceanography Tide Activity Using Real Tide Data

Earth Science

Name____________________________

Unit 8: Oceanography

Period ___________________

Tide Activity Using Real Tide Data

Background Information:

In most parts of the world, the difference between high and low tide amounts

to only a few feet. Nevertheless, this change in water level still is enough to be

very important in some areas. In many places at low tide, the water is too

shallow to allow boats to move effectively into an out of harbors, whereas at high tide it is deep

enough for them to do so. Because of their effect on navigation, tides have been studied for

many years, and today physical oceanographers know quite a bit about their causes and

characteristics.

Objectives:

• To use the Internet as a source for real and current data.

• To demonstrate the rhythmic patterns of tides throughout a month.

• To chart the relationship between tides and phases of the moon.

Procedure:

The following data table contains actual tide data taken from the internet for St. Simons

Island, Georgia, for the entire month of March, 2005.

Part 1: Analyze the data table and answer the questions below:

1. Look at the two high tides that occurred on day 1. What is the time interval between the

two successive (in a row) high tides? _____________________

2. How many high tides are there per day? ________________________

3. How many low tides are there per day? ________________________

Look at the tide data for day 7. What time did the first high tide occur? ____________

What time did the first low tide occur? ______________

How long did it take for the tide to go out? (Show your work).

5. Continue to look at the tide data for day 7.

What time did the first low tide occur? ________________

What time did the second high tide occur? ________________

How long did it take for the tide to come in? (Show your work).

6. Are the two times the same?

_______________

7. Which takes longer? ______________

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Earth Science Oceanography Tide Activity Using Real Tide Data