Expert: Jesse Martinez - 1/2/2010

Question
QUESTION: Jesse i am an avid surfer of about 20 years. I live in southern California. I have read a few of the answers to tidal swings and understand that the sun and moon have a lot to do with the degree of high or low tides. What i don't understand is: It seems like every winter.
1)The high tides are higher than usual
2)The highest tide seems to always be in the morning
3)The extreme high tide that seems to always be in the morning lasts for months and doesn't fluctuate much.


I hope this is the correct way to ask these question. If not please let me know.

Thank you,

ANSWER: Greeting Scott,

First, I will tell you that the morning tides of January 2nd and 15th should be the bitchin'est of the year, with tomorrow, Jan 2nd, being extra fine. You may have guessed I agree with you.  The tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon. The biggest two reasons for your observations believe it or not, are:
1. the Earth is closer to the sun in winter, with tomorrow, January 2nd being the actual day it is closest and
2. the sun and the moon are lined up on the same side of the Earth when the moon is new, Jan. 15th and on opposite sides on the full moon, Jan. 2nd.


The Sun contributes about one third of the pull, and the Moon two thirds. When the Moon, Earth and Sun are lined up you get the highest highs. This happens at new moon and full moon.

As for why in the morning? I really can't say.

As for the third part of the question, I don't really understand what you mean by lasts for months. I am not a surfer, but I know that high tide is best in most places for longer rides and that other places get better barrels at low tide (probably due to the contour of the ocean floor where the waves start forming). See the site below for more information.

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides/tides06_variations.htm

I hope you read this in time. Great surfing tomorrow!



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jesse,

Thanks for the information i greatly appreciate your time. What i meant in the third part of my question was: that the high tides during the winter months seem to be in the morning. Surfing in my area is best in the morning when the wind is minimal, and we have slow to medium tides. High tides when the wind is low is not good for surfing.  

Answer
Thanks for explaining that to me. This is how I come across a lot of the things I know. It is when people inform me of something I might never have thought about. I guess you best surfing times in your area are any time EXCEPT the days around the full or new moon. Once again, thanks. Call on me any time.