A tide in which the diurnal constituents K1 and O1 dominate, giving one high and one low per lunar day. It occurs where the semidiurnal tide is weak, often near an amphidromic point, as along parts of the northern Gulf of Mexico and in some Southeast Asian waters. Diurnal tides grow strongest when the Moon is far from the equator and can almost vanish into a mixed or semidiurnal pattern when it crosses it.
It's a diurnal tide on this stretch of the Gulf, one high around noon and that's your lot for the day.
Also heard as
- daily tide
Related terms
K1
The lunisolar diurnal constituent, period about 23.93 hours, a main driver of once-daily tides.
O1
The principal lunar diurnal constituent, period about 25.82 hours, created by the Moon's declination.
Semidiurnal tide
A tide with two high waters and two low waters of similar height in each lunar day.
Form factor
A ratio of diurnal to semidiurnal constituent amplitudes used to classify a tide as semidiurnal, mixed or diurnal.
Tropic tide
A tide occurring when the Moon is near its greatest declination, giving the largest daily inequality.