March 29, 2024
Do you know why the moon has a strong influence on the tides?

Do you know why the moon has a strong influence on the tides?

Image: shutterstock

Do you know how tides work? Ocean? According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the change in the high and low tides in the oceans is caused by the gravitational effect between Moon And the sun. Keep reading and understand how the moon affects ocean tides.

Tidal movement is essential to fishing and life in the oceans

In addition to the moon, there are other factors that can affect ocean tides. For example, file sun It is one of the factors affecting tidal force.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), its gravity does not have as great an effect as that of the moon. The interesting thing is that when the sun and moon align, during a full moon or new moon, the spring tides, which are the lunar and solar tides, are mutually formed.

These tides, which occur every two weeks, are responsible for creating the most prominent high and low tides at sea level.

A very important fact in the formation of tides is climate a land. The amount of wind can affect low tide, pushing water away, just as storms and hurricanes can cause high tides.

How does the moon affect ocean tides?

The distance between the Earth and the Moon is about 385,000 km. We know that there is a gravitational force in both, which affects each other.

According to the European Space Agency ESA, the Moon orbits above the Earth not in circles, but in an elliptical manner, that is, as a flat and elongated circumference. Therefore, the exchange of gravitational force varies according to the distance between them.

When you are closest to Earth, or also called the perihelion point, gravity pushes the tides 20% more forcefully than average. Thus, there is an increase in water levels on the surfaces of areas near them. When the Moon is at its zenith, or farthest point from Earth, its gravitational pull is at its lowest; With it, the water levels normalized.