I never thought about how uncommon the tide was at Mont St Michelle. It is famous for becoming an island at high tide. I just assumed all tides along that coast were dramatic. But it seems to be exclusive to that bay.
this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2024
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Why are there such high differences around Britain and pretty much nowhere else? I understand why the Mediterranean sea has almost none, such a large volume just can't pass the Gibraltar, but I don't understand why there is so much water moving around Britain. Is it just water moving along and being stopped by land wihnout having much other places to flow?
Semi-related: never thoughts about this before, but there must be massive currents near Gibraltar
As someone living in the Baltic tides have always been so weird. My local lake is at most 5 meters deep, mostly around 3. Would they just dissappear completely?
Does anyone know why this happens?
In order for the tides to rise significantly in the Baltic or Mediterranean, you'd need that much extra water to flow through the narrow opening in the straits of Gibraltar/Denmark.
The Baltic sea also probably is less affected because it's so far north, and the tides are based on the Moon's (not-quite-equatorial, but not THAT inclined) orbit.
Then why are there stronger tides around the UK while the Atlantic is pretty in between where I'd expect the most flow.
Is it because water piles up by the shores? Does the direction of earths rotation have an effect on which coasts have different tides then too?
Also I think it would be fun to have an ocean depth map next to it to visualize how far the water ebbs.
This seems to happen anywhere sea water reaches into narrowing areas. Volume vs area.
Bay of Fundy also has large tidal differences. Hike out on Cape Split and you can watch them happen. Or dine above the Reversing Falls in St. John, NB at the right time.
Nice visualization!
And just because it made me think of one of my all-time favorite songs: