COASTAL TIDE CLOCKS

       The following information is included with each TIDE CLOCK purchase.  

                                                                                             TIDE CLOCK INFORMATION

      

Tides are the alternating rise and fall of sea level with respect to land, as influenced by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun.  THE MOON IS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THE TIDE.  The time it takes for the moon to reappear at the same place in the sky every day is called the lunar day and is 24 hours and 50 minutes.  In the United States, along the Atlantic coast, there are normally two high and two low tides each lunar day.  Because of this, your tide clock rotates once every 12 hours and 25 minutes, or twice each day.  In other areas, such as the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, there tends to be a large difference between the two daily tides and there often appears to be just one high and one low tide per day.

Your tide clock will stay in step with the moon, as the moon has the dominating effect on the tides, but there are other factors that influence day-to-day tides in your area.  Predicted tidal heights are those expected under average weather conditions.  Barometric pressure, on-shore winds, coastline configuration, local water depth, and seafloor topography affect the time and height of tides.  The sun affects the tides, as well, but has less than half the influence of the moon.

FOR BEST CALIBRATION, SET YOUR TIDE CLOCK WITH A FULL MOON.

To most accurately calibrate your tide clock, obtain a local tide table along with a calendar that shows the dates of the full moon.  On the date of the full moon, insert the battery precisely at the time of high tide and rotate the indicator on the back of the movement to high tide or the 12 o'clock position.  If set correctly, the tide clock will display minimal error throughout the month, usually a discrepancy of less than 30 minutes, and therefore unnoticeable.  Typically, only four or five days each month will there be a difference as great as an hour.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (NOAA) maintains continuous control of approximately 140 tide gauges located along coasts and bays and is responsible for predictions of tide times, heights, and ranges in the United States as well as foreign countries.  Go to their website and click on predictions for tidal information for

your state: http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/tide_pred.html.

There are countless internet sites you may enjoy reading explaining the technicalities of the how and why of tides.  You may also refer to www.saltwatertides.com for tide times and heights of certain locations within your state.

This page was last updated: February 19, 2010