New Blog: Studies and Notes on Tides

I am learning. Studying about Tides, and here I mean to keep track of all things Tides. My approach is to embrace the broadest range of topics possible, all connected with tides.  Tidepooling and intertidal ecology.  I have become more interested in the Physics of tides.  I have been collecting literature of tide science; as time progresses, the incredible number of publications on tides has become more apparent, and this has been so for centuries.  The Tides are one of the more interesting and complex applications of physics, and the biology of intertidal fauna and flora is extensive.  Theories of intertical zonation comprise a subliterature of themselves.

For three decades I have been making graphical tide calendars, monthly tide predictions, and along the way other ways of visualizing tides have captured my attention.  I will post graphs, and collect interesting graphs and links, and information about data visualization.

Sea levels are rising.  On Pacific Islands, including Micronesia and the Philippine Islands, this is a more immediate issue.  Like many problems that seem peripheral, or are imagined to be imaginary to continent dwellers---endangered species, invasive species, solid waste management debacles, range shifts and other biogeography issues, overfishing and other resource depletion issues, plastic trash on the high seas, for some, nuclear waste containment---sea level rise is a serious and immediate problem for islanders on small islands.  These problems seem more tractable, in terms of study, than in larger, continental situations.   Micronesians already are grappling with truly existential issues (what happens when the wells and taro patches turn salty?), virtually all of which were brought on by the actions of humans in other places, from other cultures, in more advantaged economic straits.  I find the diversity of tidal regimes of compelling interest, including some remarkable ones on islands.

Besides, tides are essential environmental variables to islanders, and have been for as long as they have lived on these islands.  What can they tell us about tides?   Shall I call this Ethno-Oceanography?   I am keenly interested in this area of knowledge as well.

Many years ago, when I encountered EL Nino, when living in Chuuk Lagoon, tides took on a more important role to me.  Study of the graphs showing sea levels during El Nino convinced me that tide levels are a deterministic indicator of El Nino and La Nina.  The following graph has haunted me. 

This is an enhanced version of the graph in Mark A. Cane. 1983.  Oceanographic events during El Nino.  Science 222(4629):189-1195. 

 This blog serves as a catchall personal library of eclectic matters, mostly connected with The Tides.  References, links, lists, ideas, graphs, all of these are intended to be vouchsafed.  If others find it of interest, I would be pleased to learn of it, perhaps by an email or comment.