Why are tides lower in winter? (2024)

FAQs

Why are tides lower in winter? ›

In the northern hemisphere, tides are lowest during the winter when the Earth is farthest from the sun. The tidal range (difference between high and low tide) also varies throughout the year and is largest during the spring.

When the Earth is closest to the sun (perihelion), which occurs about January 2 of each calendar year, the tidal ranges are enhanced. When the Earth is furthest from the sun (aphelion), around July 2, the tidal ranges are reduced (Sumich, J.L., 1996; Thurman, H.V., 1994).

The reason has to do with the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the sun - the same tilt that causes Summer and Winter. The extra tug the tides feel once a day causes the difference in the low waters.

In the period between the two spring tides, the moon faces the Earth at a right angle to the sun. When this happens, the pull of the sun and the moon are weak. This causes tides that are lower than usual. These tides are known as neap tides.

King tides receive their royal designation because they produce the highest, as well as the lowest, tides of the year. In the winter, they rise and fall along the Pacific coast when the sun and moon line up in their coziest proximity to Earth, exerting their greatest gravitational pull upon ocean waters.

"Perihelion" usually occurs around Jan. 4 or 5 and if we ever see the sun in Seattle in January, you'd notice it's about 5% larger than it is in July. Anyway, being closer to the sun means the sun exerts a little more gravitational pull on the tides and thus you get higher tides this time of year.

As most boating enthusiasts either know or quickly learn, tides are lower in winter because that's the time of year in which the moon is closer to the earth – creating higher tides due to the gravitational pull of the moon.

It depends which hemisphere you live in. In principle, the tides are slightly higher in December and January because we are slightly closer to the Sun, but, of course, these are only winter months in the northern hemisphere.

The two tidal bulges track the changes in lunar declination, also increasing or decreasing their angles to the equator. Similarly, the sun's relative position to the equator changes over the course of a year as the Earth rotates around it. The sun's declination affects the seasons as well as the tides.

Summer Solstice: Higher high tides occur due to the increased angle of the sun relative to the Earth during the summer solstice. Coastal storms: Storms can cause flooding in coastal areas, particularly when it coincides with high tide.

What is the highest tide ever recorded? ›

It was here at Burntcoat Head that the highest tides ever at 53.6 feet were recorded on the Bay of Fundy. The Guinness Book World Records declared in 1975 that this unique place on the bay has the highest tidal range in the world. The range at high tide swings between 47.5 and 53.6 feet.

Larger tidal range occur during spring tides (spring range), when the gravitational forces of both the Moon and Sun are aligned (at syzygy), reinforcing each other in the same direction (new moon) or in opposite directions (full moon).

When the sun, moon, and Earth are in alignment (at the time of the new or full moon), the solar tide has an additive effect on the lunar tide, creating extra-high high tides, and very low, low tides—both commonly called spring tides.

These tides are referred to as neap tides; a low tide or one that is lower than average. A neap tide happens between two spring tides and occurs twice a month when the first and last quarter Moon appears.

Because the Earth rotates through two tidal “bulges” every lunar day, coastal areas experience two high and two low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. High tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart.

Summer tides are higher than winter tides because of several factors, such as the difference between summer and winter water temperatures; rainfall and seasonal changes in air temperature; and wind. (For example, cold water takes up less volume than warm water, so the tides in winter are lower.)

The moon's gravitational pull and associated tidal bulge will align closer with the sun's during the morning during the cool season and will switch to the evening during the warm season.