On tidal friction and the decelerations of the earth's rotation and moon's revolution

Abstract

Abstract This paper develops and analyzes the basic principles of the hydrodynamic, mechanical, and thermodynamic workings of the moon, ocean, and earth (MOE) tidal interaction system from the energy conservation law alone. With the introduction of effective densities of spherical harmonic tides, it became possible to define consistent power and torque quantities and to establish fundamental relationships between them. These relationships made it possible to interpret hydrodynamic energy terms into corresponding heat dissipation and/or mechanical energy changes of the earth's rotation and moon's revolution. Without specifying any particular ocean tide model, it became possible to reveal the important mechanism by which the moon's gravitating forces brake the earth's rotation essentially via the medium of the ocean tides. While the moon pulls the earth and ocean tides around in a nonsynchronous manner, the oceans gear into the distortions of their floors and brake the earth essentially with their tidal pre...