Abstract
Ocean semi-diurnal tides are suggested qualitatively to be more accurately explained by the vertical tide generating forces of the sun and moon, not by the historically standard horizontal components. It is proposed that the sea level elevations created sequentially at the eastern and then western ocean coastal boundaries propagate seaward as shallow water surface gravity waves and interact without mutual disturbance. In that manner two tides per day are created. Horizontal tide forces generate horizontal ocean currents with speeds of 5 mph at the most. Shallow water tide waves move at about 500 mph in open waters and therefore come much closer to being in tune with the sun and moon transiting across the sky.
Highlights
From most tide gauges in most oceans comes the information that there are two high tides and two low tides in one day
Why? This observation is counter-intuitive since the sun and the moon pass over each tide gauge only once a day, and it is universally accepted that the gravitational attractions of the sun and moon are what causes ocean tides
The focus is on the vertical component of the tide force to help understand the two tides per day dilemma
Summary
From most tide gauges in most oceans comes the information that there are two high tides and two low tides in one day. Behind the failure is a fact: open-ocean horizontal currents are at least 100 times slower than a propagating shallow water surface gravity wave is, which has a speed of about 500 mph. It is well known from timing after an earthquake and arrival at a coast that tsunamis move across the ocean at about 500 mph, and they are shallow water waves, as are the tides. One of the fastest currents in the open ocean, the Gulf Stream, flows at 5 mph Another reference speed is that the sun and moon pass over a fixed point on the earth’s surface at about 1000 mph. Once an elevation is produced, a wave like movement of it can take place
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