Comment on xkcd #3135: Sea Level
psoul@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Everyone was taught the tides look like two giant water bulges going around the earth in line with the moon.
That representation is oversimplified and false.
This is how the tides look like at a global level. It’s messed up.
Olhonestjim@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Ok, that clarifies things so much better for me. Thank you.
MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca 1 week ago
You understand it more after that?
I’m more confused, honestly. But that’s hardly surprising.
Olhonestjim@lemmy.world 1 week ago
The pictures they used to teach the tides as a child came to make less sense to me in regards to certain places having higher tides than others. That animation clarified how tides are ordered by the Moon and made chaotic by the shapes of land. The planetary ocean bulges they taught us as kids stuck with me too long and prevented deeper understanding. It finally clicked for me.
MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca 1 week ago
Fair enough.
I just have a hard time translating what what shown in the video to what’s actually happening. Might be a bit too much to take in at once.
Then again, I haven’t cared much about the tides ever, and I only know that the tides are a function of the moon because of Bill Nye, I think.
My HS “education” was pretty bad, honestly.