0
Earth's ocean tides are initiated by the tidal force (a gradient in intensity) of Moon's gravity and are magnified by a host of effects in Earth's oceans. The gravitational tidal force arises because the side of Earth facing the Moon (nearest it) is attracted more strongly by the Moon's gravity than is the center of the Earth and(even less so)the Earth's far side. The gravitational tide stretches the Earth's oceans into an ellipse with the Earth in the center. The effect takes the form of two bulges-elevated sea level relative to the Earth: one nearest the Moon and one farthest from it. Since these two bulges rotate around the Earth once a day as it spins on its axis, ocean water is continuously rushing towards the ever-moving bulges. The effects of the two bulges and the massive ocean currents chasing them are magnified by an interplay of other effects; namely frictional coupling of water to Earth's rotation through the ocean floors, inertia of water's movement, ocean basins that get shallower near land, and oscillations between different ocean basins. The magnifying effect is a bit like water sloshing high up the sloped end of a bathtub after a relatively small disturbance of one's body in the deep part of the tub.
Gravitational coupling between the Moon and the oceans affects the orbit of the Moon. From the Moon's point of view, the tidal bulges are carried ahead by the rotation of the Earth, so that they don't point directly toward the Moon. The gravitational coupling drains kinetic energy and angular momentum from the Earth's rotation. In turn, angular momentum is added to the Moon's orbit. Somewhat counterintuitively, this moves the Moon to a higher orbit with a longer period. This results in a 3.8 cm yearly increase in the distance between the two bodies. The Moon will continue to move slowly away from the Earth until the tidal effects between the two are no longer of significance, whereupon the Moon's orbit will stabilize.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 16y agotides
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What state of water is most common on Earths surface?
Liquid water--oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, aquifers, and streams.
Who is a scientist who studies the oceans and seas?
An 'Oceanographert'.
What did scientists learn about the sea floor?
geology,oceans,seas
What is sandstone made from----------- that settles in layers at the ---------- of seas and oceans?
sand, bottom
The flattest regions on earth are?
Bodies of water such as oceans, seas and lakes.
What are the earths percent of oceans and seas?
72.1%
Does the moon have seas and oceans?
no
Where is most of the earths water located?
Over 95% of the Earth's water is in the oceans and seas.
Why are earths seas and oceans collectively known as the global ocean?
They are interconnected
Water covers 70 percent of earths surface mostly in oceans and seas as what?
Water
How do currents form in the oceans and seas?
Gravity from the Earth's proximity to the moon.
How much do the ocean rivers and seas lakes covers how much of the earth?
the oceans and seas cover over two thirds of the earths surface. of the five oceans the pacific is by far the biggest
Does the moon have any oceans?
There are no large bodies of water on the moon (or even small ones). There are areas called 'seas' though they are not seas as we know them on earth.
How can the earths surface be organized into continents and oceans explain into two sentences?
the earth can be organized into 4 oceans, 7 seas, and 7 continents
Why does the moon have a greater affect on tides then the sun does?
Though the Moon is much smaller than the Sun, it is closer to Earth than the Sun. So exerts a greater gravitation effect on Earth's oceans and seas.
What source of most water evaporates from earths surface?
Water is evaporated from oceans, seas, lakes, rivers.
What biome covers over 70 percent of the earths surface?
Ocean.---WEG
