Blog 2 – Forecasting Tides

Tide Image

Have you ever wondered how we predict the rise and fall of tides? Tides are driven by the gravitational forces of the Earth, Moon, and Sun, and has been a relevant subject to astronomers for hundreds of years. In a general sense, we are able to predict the timing of high vs. low and neap vs. spring tides based on the relative location of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. However, we can go further…

Through modern technology, we are able to actually predict what tidal patterns would be before they happen in specific locations. The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has 3,000 locations along coasts all over the United States where they have collected and analyzed data to predict the severity and variation in tides. The NOAA Tide Predictions interface allows users to select a specific tide station and generate tide predictions for the current day and the following day. Users can customize the predictions by adjusting parameters such as the begin date, time range (daily, weekly, or monthly), time zone, and units of measurement (feet or meters)

Meanwhile, tide-predicting machines (pictured below), marvels of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were earlier tools for forecasting tidal patterns. The first tide-predicting machine, created in 1872–73, and later improved with two larger versions in 1876 and 1879, was developed by Sir William Thomson. These machines mechanized the laborious computations involved in tide prediction.

Early Tide Predicting Machine