Tides can vary by almost a meter across a single bay, four decades of satellite images reveal
Tide levels can vary by almost a meter across a single bay, according to a new study that uses decades of satellite images to measure tides at the scale of individual beaches.
Tide levels can dramatically differ over short distances along a coastline, according to a new study that examines satellite images of beaches spanning four decades. Researchers at Technische Universität München and the University of Oxford have developed a technique that uses beach slope and waterline movement to estimate tidal heights at 100-meter intervals.
In New Zealand's South Taranaki Bight, tidal heights differ by nearly a meter across a 90-kilometer-long bay. This coastal variation highlights the importance of localized tide forecasts for activities such as fishing, surfing, and coastal flood risk assessment. The technique could also enhance oceanographic knowledge, improve flood models, and aid in understanding the impacts of sea-level rise on tides.
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