Oceanic tides

Abstract

The definition of the tide-generating potential, basic to all research, is reviewed in modern terms. Modern usage in analysis introduces the concept of tidal 'admittance' functions, though limited to rather narrow frequency bands. A 'radiational potential' has also been found useful in defining the parts of tidal signals which are due directly or indirectly to solar radiation. Laplace's tidal equations and solutions in basins of simple geometry are reviewed. The difficulties which arise in the use of computers for large scale computation, due primarily to inadequately known values for friction, rate of working of the Moon etc., are considered.