Module 11 - Tides & Tidal Streams
Using Tide Tables
Active recall
Section 4 of 8
Explain the main idea from using Tide Tables in your own words.
Tide tables list the predicted times and heights of high water (HW) and low water (LW) for standard ports, for every day of the year. They are published in the nautical almanac (or the dedicated Admiralty Tide Tables).
To find the height of tide at a given time, you need: the times and heights of the HW and LW bracketing your required time, and the shape of the tidal curve for that port. You then use the tidal curve method to interpolate.
Tip: Check the time basis printed by the tide product. Add one hour during BST only when the source is in UT/UTC; do not add it again when the source already displays local civil time.
Key points
- Tide tables give HW and LW times and heights for standard ports
- Check whether the product shows UT/UTC or local civil time before applying BST
- Heights are measured above Chart Datum
- Use tidal curves to find height at intermediate times
Continue studying Tides & Tidal Streams
This public lesson is part of Module 11. Full access adds the guided module flow, quizzes, flashcards, progress, and revision modes.