Exercise #5: exploring tidal data

(E5) Exercise #5: Exploring Tidal Data

Goals

The purpose of this exercise is to help you read tide charts, and understand tides & the forces that generate them.

The Data

For this exercise, we will be using NOAA data on tides from their Tides and Currents website. This site gives users tidal predictions from active US tidal stations. We will use current data from this site; but I will provide you with the data, as this website has been known to have errors.

We will be using data for March 23-24 for sites 1 and 2, and for the entire month of March for site 3. On these graphs, NOTE: “MLLW” = “Mean Lower Low Water Level,” is given as a height of 0.0 ft as a point of reference.

The Exercise

Using the data available at the links below, answer the following questions. Most of these questions (except where indicated) will be presented as multiple-choice questions within the Canvas Quizzes.

Site 1: Admiralty Head, Washington

Examine the tide prediction for Admiralty Head in Puget Sound on page 4 of this exercise worksheet and answer the following questions:

1. How many high tides and how many low tides are there in each day (24 hour period)?

2. What type of tidal cycle does Admiralty Head, Washington experience?

3. You’re planning on going on a low tide beach walk to look at sea life on March 23; you can see the tidal pools at tide levels of 2 feet and lower. At what time should you go for your beach walk?

Site 2: Pensacola, Florida

Examine the tide prediction for Pensacola, Florida on page 5 of this worksheet and answer the following questions:

1. How many high tides and how many low tides are there in each day (24 hour period)?

2. What type of tidal cycle does Pensacola experience?

3. In what ways do the tidal ranges of Pensacola and Admiralty Head locations differ? What factors might account for these differences? Use your textbook and module terminology to answer this question. Your answer should be 3-5 sentences in length and should be specific in contrasting the tides in the two locations. (NOTE: This question will require a short answer in the Canvas Quizzes tool)