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The Advantages of Water Tides

The rise and fall of water levels in ocean shores and inlets is a powerful natural force that occurs approximately every 12 hours because of the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. People have been watching and taking advantage of tides for centuries in order to make the most of the resources available in the oceans. As well as having benefits to humans, tides also play an important role in ocean ecology.

Electrical Generation
- The energy generated by the movement of the huge volumes of water involved in tidal activity can be harnessed to generate electricity. Hydroelectric power is often generated when water drops in elevation, such as when moving over a waterfall or when released from a dam. Tides can be used to generate electricity by capturing water when it rises to high tide and then releasing it at low tide. When the water is released, it passes through power turbines, which turn and generate electricity. The location of this type of renewable power generation must be carefully planned so as not to negatively impact delicate shoreline ecosystems.
Transportation
- The movements of the tides have been used for centuries in order to sail the waters of the ocean with the most efficiency and safety. Knowing the time at which the tide was turning and the direction of the currents was necessary to safely maneuver ocean-bound sailing vessels. The change in shoreline water levels also allowed for large ships to get closer to land and to navigate smaller, shallower waterways. Modern ships, which are much larger than those of past generations, still take advantage of tides in order to navigate waterways successfully, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Ecology
- Many land and aquatic creatures take advantage of daily tidal activity. Many animals and plants use the movement of the tides to carry them between breeding areas in protected estuaries, and then back out to deeper ocean waters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Land animals also take advantages of the plants and immobile organisms revealed by receding tides as food sources. Sometimes fish and small aquatic animals will become trapped in small pools of water left behind by dropping tides, making easy meals for sea-birds. The removal of large quantities of water also help to recirculate shoreline nutrients, and to help dilute and remove any pollutants that would otherwise accumulate along the shore.

Nature