Tides & Ocean Math: Harmonic Constituents, Tide Tables & Wave Calculations
Model a tide as cosine constituents, beat M2 against S2 into springs and neaps, read high and low water, test the rule of twelfths, interpolate tidal streams, size a tidal prism, compute wave speed by depth, wave energy and power, and fit a sea-level trend: 8 graded labs with illustrative data, not for navigation.
The first lesson is free — no account needed.
About this course
A tides and ocean science course that models the water of one fictional harbour, Port Halden, in a spreadsheet, for oceanography, geography and earth science students, teachers, sailors and coastal engineering students. You model the semidiurnal M2 tide as a cosine and find the first high water, add the solar S2 tide and chart the spring-neap cycle, read times and heights of high and low water from a modelled curve, compare the rule of twelfths with the cosine model, interpolate tidal streams and estimate a tidal prism, calculate wave speed and wavelength in deep and shallow water, find wave energy and wave power per metre of crest, and fit a sea-level trend in mm per year with SLOPE and a trendline. Illustrative data, not for navigation: use official tide tables and charts at sea. The first lab is free.
Lessons
- One Constituent: the Semidiurnal M2 Tide as a CosineFree
- Two Constituents: M2 + S2, Spring and Neap Tides (with a Chart) Pro
- High & Low Water: Times and Heights from a Modelled Curve Pro
- Rule of Twelfths vs the Cosine Model Pro
- Tidal Range, Tidal Streams & the Tidal Prism Pro
- Wave Speed in Deep vs Shallow Water Pro
- Wave Height, Energy & Wave Power per Metre Pro
- Sea-Level Trend from Annual Means: SLOPE, mm/yr & a Trendline Pro