Article
Article
Earth tide
Article By:
Slichter, Louis B. Formerly, Institute of Geophysics, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
Kuo, John T. Department of Mining Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Last reviewed:November 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.209600
Cyclic motion of the Earth, sometimes over a foot or so in height, depending on latitude, caused by the same lunar and solar forces that produce tides in the sea. These forces also react on the Moon and Sun, and thus are significant in astronomy in evaluations of the dynamics of the three bodies. For example, the secular spin-down of the Earth due to lunar tidal torques is best computed from the observed acceleration of the Moon's orbital velocity. In oceanography, earth tides and ocean tides are very closely related. See also: Earth, gravity field of; Geodesy; Tide
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