The Mighty Bay of Fundy Tides
Resonance, Planetary Pull, Factors in World's Highest Tidal Waters
Mar 15, 2009
Eastern Canada's Bay of Fundy is located off the Atlantic coast of North America. The Fundy Bay borders Nova Scotia on one side and New Brunswick and the tip of Maine on the other.
Natural forces have converged to make the Bay of Fundy subject to significant tidal ranges, earning the Bay the designation of being home to the world's highest tides. What contributes to the Fundy phenomenon?
Tidal action is influenced by planetary gravitational pull. The sun and moon engage in a tug of war that causes oceanic waters to move back and forth. What happens when these waters converge with the Fundy tides?
Fundy's Shape Contributes to High Tides--The Bay of Fundy is a narrow 170-mile long V-shaped channel. This shape causes the waters to double up as they travel up the Bay.
Bay Bottom Influences Fundy Tidal Heights--The Fundy bottom slopes upward like a funnel, from its mouth to its head, which forces incoming water to rise. The tide is 11 feet along Nova Scotia's southwest shore. As it makes its way up the Bay, it increases in height up to 53 feet in the Minas Basin.
Resonance and High Tides--By the time this cycle is completed some thirteen hours later, the moon then exerts its pull, which magnifies the tidal ranges. In a particular coincidence of timing, the Fundy tidal cycle (rhythmic oscillation) coincides with incoming oceanic tidal waters. This induces a second oscillation, thus the Bay is like a tub of water that is rocked back and forth. This resonance, termed a seiche, produces higher tidal ranges.
Bay of Fundy Tides: How Mighty?
- Twice daily over 100 billions tons of water move in and out of the Bay of Fundy.
- Fundy waters are equivalent to or greater than all the world's freshwater rivers.
- The sheer weight of the water flowing into the Minas Basin actually causes Nova Scotia to tilt, bending under the immense pressure.
Fundy Tidal Action
- Each phase of the tidal cycle takes 6 hours, 13 minutes with an average tidal range of 45.5 feet.
- Tide times move ahead about one hour each day.
- The highest tidal range was recorded as 54.6 feet.
Fundy Tides and the Phases of the Moon
Spring Tides--occur during new or full moons, when earth, sun and moon are aligned. Spring tides are greater.
Neap Tides--take place twice each month when sun and moon oppose each other and are at right angles to earth. Neap tides are slighter.
Perigean Tides--when the moon is closest to earth, tides are even higher.
It is believed that some 200 factors combine to create the mighty Bay of Fundy tides, earning the Fundy Bay the designation of being one of the natural wonders of the world.
Bay of Fundy Information:
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