Tides Questions

[beach hunter]

So I was reading to learn more about finding sharks teeth and came across an article that was talking about how the tide is stronger on a full moon or something and after a storm. Which means it pulls bigger teeth ashore. Is this a fact? I live in SC. Where could I find a schedule that has times of a full moon? Thanks!

[PetrolPete]

I don't know about the shark teeth aspect, but yes, the moon does change the tides and sediment deposition. If I recall correctly, The tides are cyclic, you have spring and neap tides. Spring tides occur at new and full moons, and are the strongest (with the highest rates of deposition) the neap tides occur at first and third quarter moons, and are weaker with less deposition. In spring tides, the lunar and solar tides work together so the force is at a maximum in the cycle. In neap tides, the solar and lunar forces act perpendicular to each other, providing the minimum force in the cycle.

Here is what it looks like:

and this website can show the lunar cycle schedule:

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml

Edited March 24, 2013 by PetrolPete

[beach hunter]

I don't know about the shark teeth aspect, but yes, the moon does change the tides and sediment deposition. If I recall correctly, The tides are cyclic, you have spring and neap tides. Spring tides occur at new and full moons, and are the strongest (with the highest rates of deposition) the neap tides occur at first and third quarter moons, and are weaker with less deposition. In spring tides, the lunar and solar tides work together so the force is at a maximum in the cycle. In neap tides, the solar and lunar forces act perpendicular to each other, providing the minimum force in the cycle.

Here is what it looks like:

spring_neap_orientation.JPG

and this website can show the lunar cycle schedule:

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml

Thank you this is exactly what I was looking for!

[beach hunter]

I don't know about the shark teeth aspect, but yes, the moon does change the tides and sediment deposition. If I recall correctly, The tides are cyclic, you have spring and neap tides. Spring tides occur at new and full moons, and are the strongest (with the highest rates of deposition) the neap tides occur at first and third quarter moons, and are weaker with less deposition. In spring tides, the lunar and solar tides work together so the force is at a maximum in the cycle. In neap tides, the solar and lunar forces act perpendicular to each other, providing the minimum force in the cycle.

Here is what it looks like:

spring_neap_orientation.JPG

and this website can show the lunar cycle schedule:

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml

Alright so I have one more question. As it gets closer to a full or new moon does the tide get stronger?

[PetrolPete]

yes, as it get close to a full or new moon, it approaches the maximum strength, just as when it approaches the neap tide phase it approaches the minimum strength. It will have a behavior similar to that of a sine wave, it has an upper and lower limit and it will always be approaching one or the other. A full lunar cycle would equate to two peaks and two troughs in a sine wave plot.

Here is a picture for reference. The first peak would be the full moon, the first trough would be a first or third quarter, the next peak would be the new moon, and the final trough would be a first or third quarter. Then the cycle would repeat. The relative value on the y-axis would represent the strength at that point in the lunar cycle.