Tidal heights, tidal curves, tidal diamonds, stream atlases, and secondary port corrections.
Tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlasesAdmiralty method for tidal height at standard portCorrections for secondary portsTide tables
3 outcomes for this module
Explain tidal heights, tidal curves, tidal diamonds, stream atlases, and secondary port corrections.
Apply Tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases to a realistic onboard situation.
Recall the core check: tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun.
Preview the onboard scenario
You are preparing a real trip and tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases changes the decision. Use this module to explain the cue, the risk, and the next safe action before you move on.
You are preparing a real trip and tidal diamonds and tidal stream atlases changes the decision. Use this module to explain the cue, the risk, and the next safe action before you move on.
Use this module hub to choose the right lesson, then open the dedicated lesson page for the complete explanation, worked examples, FAQs, and practice questions.
What Causes Tides?
Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the Moon (and to a lesser extent the Sun) on the Earth's oceans. As the Earth rotates, bulges of water follow the Moon, creating th...
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun
UK has semi-diurnal tides โ two highs and two lows per ~25 hours
When the Sun and Moon align (new moon and full moon), their gravitational pulls combine, producing spring tides โ the highest highs and lowest lows. When the Sun and Moon are at right ang...
Spring tides โ Sun and Moon aligned (new/full moon). Largest range.
Neap tides โ Sun and Moon at 90ยฐ (quarter moon). Smallest range.
Chart Datum (CD) is the reference level from which depths on charts and tidal heights are measured. It is set at approximately the Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) โ the lowest tide that ca...
Chart Datum (CD) โ Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT)
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 de...
Tide tables give HW and LW times and heights for standard ports
Times are usually in UT (Universal Time) โ add 1 hour for BST
The Admiralty tidal curve is the standard method for finding the height of tide at any time. Step 1: Find the HW time and height, and LW height, from the tide tables. Step 2: Calculate th...
Tidal diamonds are lettered positions on the chart (e.g., diamond A, B, C) that give the set (direction) and rate (speed) of the tidal stream for each hour relative to HW at a reference p...
Tidal diamonds: direction (set) and speed (rate) at specific points
Data given for each hour relative to HW at a reference port
Most ports are listed as secondary ports, with differences applied to a standard port. The almanac provides time differences (e.g., HW is 20 minutes later) and height differences or ratio...
Secondary ports use differences from a standard port
Time differences: applied to standard port HW/LW times
Worked height example: HW is 4.9 m at 1200, LW is 1.3 m at 1800, and you need the height at 1500. The range is 4.9 - 1.3 = 3.6 m. 1500 is three hours after HW, so if the curve factor is 0...
Range = HW height minus LW height.
Height at time = LW height + (range x curve factor).