Searsport Maine Tide Chart (2024)

FAQs

Who has the most accurate tide chart? ›

Online predictions are more accurate and up-to-date than what is provided in the annual printed tables. NOAA tide predictions are used by both commercial and recreational mariners for safe navigation.

Observed and predicted times of low water are within 0.12 hours on average.

The Gulf of Maine is home to the largest range in tidal elevations on the planet. In the Bay of Fundy (just north of the Maine coast) the height of the sea surface can shift by a staggering 50 feet between high and low tide (Thompson, 2010).

Tide Alert is the definitive app for tide and lunar phase information, designed to provide outdoor professionals, maritime enthusiasts, and casual beachgoers with the knowledge they need to align their activities with the rhythms of the tides.

The highest tides in the world can be found in Canada's Bay of Fundy at Burntcoat Head in Nova Scotia. Image credit: Shawn M. Kent.

However, as sea levels rise, the periodicity and range of the tide will be altered due to different bathymetry (underwater depth) and topography (the physical features of an area). Therefore predicting tides a long way into the future could be less accurate.

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th hour is when most of the water is moving (2/12 + 3/12 + 3/12 = 8/12 = 2/3rds of the tidal change). The two hours surrounding the high/low tide is what is referred to as the 'slack tide', when not much water is moving. (1/12 + 1/12). Weather also impacts the tides.

NOAA Tide Predictions allows users of the Tides and Currents website (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov) to generate tide predictions for up to 2 years in the past or future, at any of 3000+ locations around the United States.

The term “King Tide” is a non-scientific term used to describe the highest seasonal tides that occur each year.

Why are tides so high in Maine? ›

Why are the tides in the Bay of Fundy so large? Back. The Bay experiences a natural tidal funneling effect (and sloshing effect, known as a seiche) which causes tidal ranges of over 10-15 meters.

Basically we have 2 high and 2 low tides every day. Low tide is about 6 hours before and after high tide. They change every day, so the best way to figure out when they are is by looking at a tide chart. This will show tide times and heights, though in most cases the height is not important.

Because of the angle of the moon with respect to the earth, the two high tides each day do not have to be of equal height. The same holds true for the two low tides each day. Tides also differ in height on a daily basis.

The king tides occur at new and full moon when the Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned at perigee and perihelion, resulting in the largest tidal range seen over the course of a year. So, tides are enhanced when the Earth is closest to the Sun around January 2 of each year.

Tidal ranges can vary greatly along the Maine coast, with 9-11 foot ranges in the Southern Maine Coast area all the way up to 19-foot ranges in far north towns near Canada. The Bay of Fundy, located on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine, is known for having the highest tidal range in the world of up to 50 feet!

The most accurate tidal predictions usually exist for places located on the coast because they are less affected by winds and other meteorological events. Areas with shallow water or in a bay are more affected by alternate factors.

Spring Tide: When the Moon, Earth, and Sun fall in a straight line, which we call syzygy (siz-eh-gee), we notice the greatest difference between high and low tide water levels. These spring tides occur twice each month, during the full and new Moon.

Therefore, the sun's tide-generating force is about half that of the moon, and the moon is the dominant force affecting the Earth's tides.

Tide clocks may experience variations to real world tides over the course of a lunar month, but they are generally reliable.