{"id":7605,"date":"2023-11-01T17:05:18","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T16:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deepworldsea.com\/?p=7605"},"modified":"2023-11-01T17:05:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T16:05:18","slug":"is-the-mediterranean-sea-tidal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deepworldsea.com\/is-the-mediterranean-sea-tidal\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Mediterranean Sea Tidal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is The Mediterranean Sea Tidal?<\/h2>\n

The Straits of Gibraltar, the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, is renowned for its strong currents, so it may be surprising to learn that the Mediterranean is not technically tidal. Although the water level does go up and down due to a number of different factors, the sea is not directly affected by the gravitational pull of the moon. The up-and-down motions of the water surface in the Mediterranean owe more to wind and atmospheric pressure than to the tides.<\/p>\n

It is important to understand the difference between a tidal sea, such as the Atlantic Ocean, and a sea that is not directly affected by the tides. Tides are the regular rise and fall of water levels that people associate with ocean shorelines all around the world. They are created by the gravitational pull of the moon on the Earth’s oceans and seas. The Mediterranean Sea, on the other hand, is not exposed to tidal forces since it is almost completely enclosed by land, with only the Straits of Gibraltar connecting it to the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

The Mediterranean Sea does experience fluctuations in water level, however. These fluctuations are due primarily to a process known as barometric tides, which occur due to the changes in atmospheric pressure that are associated with weather systems. Barometric tides tend to be much more pronounced in shallow seas like the Mediterranean, with water levels fluctuating between high and low states by as much as 40 centimeters.<\/p>\n

Another factor that affects the water level in the Mediterranean is the action of the winds, which push water in and out of the sea. For example, the trade winds that blow across the Mediterranean from the east tend to push water into the sea, while the westerly winds that blow across the Mediterranean tend to push water out. The Mediterranean is also affected by the seasonal change in temperature, which can affect how much water the atmosphere holds in the form of moisture and how much it deposits into the sea as precipitation. The combined effects of wind, pressure and temperature can cause noticeable changes in the water level in the Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n