Sea Tides Around Dubai

I recently enjoyed an evening visit to Umm Suqeim Beach in Dubai, combining leisure and sightseeing. While families reveled in chasing the waves, my environmental curiosity led me to explore and understand the rhythms of high and low tides.

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As of today Monday 25 November 2024, 9:32 AM +04 (GMT +0400), the tide is currently falling in Dubai. The highest tide (1.38m) was at 8:35 am and the lowest tide of 0.53m was at 1:50 am.

The relationship between sea tides in the Gulf region, including Dubai, and the moon's position is based on gravitational forces. Tides result primarily from the moon's gravitational pull and, to a lesser extent, the sun on Earth's oceans.

1. Gravitational Pull and Tidal Forces:

The moon's gravitational force pulls water on Earth toward it, causing a bulge, which leads to high tide on the side of Earth facing the moon. A corresponding bulge occurs on the opposite side due to centrifugal force from Earth's rotation, resulting in another high tide. Areas perpendicular to these bulges experience low tide.

2. Lunar Phases:

During the new moon and full moon, the sun, Earth, and moon align (syzygy), amplifying the gravitational pull. This causes spring tides, with higher high tides and lower low tides. During the first and last quarters of the moon, the gravitational forces of the moon and sun are at right angles, leading to neap tides, with less variation between high and low tides.

3. Tides in the Gulf Region:

The Gulf has relatively shallow waters, which affects tidal amplitude. The range is generally less pronounced than in open oceans but follows the same lunar patterns. Local factors, such as the shape of the coastline and seabed, also influence tidal behavior.

This cyclical relationship means the timing and height of tides are predictable and closely tied to the moon's orbit around Earth. For Gulf waters, tides are slightly delayed compared to the moon’s zenith due to the time it takes for water to respond to gravitational changes.

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