Definition of Tide
Tides are regular changes of the water level in oceans and lakes due to the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun. There are usually two tides per day, with periods of high and low tide alternating throughout the day. In other words, tide is the vertical rise and fall of the sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.
How Does Lake Huron Affect Tides?
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes located in North America. Being the fourth largest of the five, it has the longest shoreline and the most deepest parts. The water of Lake Huron, especially its northern parts, is extremely turbid and has the highest saturated organic matter levels of all the Great Lakes. Its shallow depth and wide area make it vulnerable to tidal influences.
However, despite being close to the sea, Lake Huron does not experience a tide as such. This is mainly attributed to the fact that Bay of Fundy, which has an intense tidal range due to its funnel shape, is located far away from Lake Huron. As a result, gravitational forces of the moon do not have much of effect on Lake Huron.
Lake Huron Tributaries
Lake Huron, being a Great Lake, collects water from numerous tributaries located around its basin. One of the main tributaries of Lake Huron is St. Clair River which is widely known for having the strongest and most pronounced tidal surges in the Great Lakes. Despite this, the tidal range of this river is still relatively low when compared to other tidal ranges- only 0.7 to 0.9 meters.
Types of Tides in Lake Huron
Even though Lake Huron does not experience an oceanic tide, there are still types of tides that are observed in the lake. The two main types are seiches and meteorological tides. Seiches are essentially long period oscillations which occur in enclosed or semi-enclosed bodies of water due to changes in atmospheric pressure and other environmental conditions. They are usually sinusoidal and take several hours to complete a single cycle.
Meteorological tides, on the other hand, are generated by narrow bands of strong winds which reach Lake Huron from the south. These winds push the surface of the water, resulting in a significant rise and fall in the water level. The most pronounced meteorological tides are observed during the spring and autumn equinox.
Effects of Tides
Tides in Lake Huron, albeit small, still have considerable effects on aquatic life. During the spring and autumn equinox, the meteorological tides cause a drastic rise and fall of the water level. This has the potential to disturb the natural habitats of the species living in the lake, especially those living in shallow parts.
The currents created by the meteo-tides also have a negative impact on navigation in Lake Huron. This is due to the fact that drastic changes in the water level can often catch ships off guard and cause them to lose their way.
The seiches, on other hand, are less distressing and have a smaller impact on navigation. Despite this, they still have adverse effects on the environment by creating turbulent waters and by altering the temperature and salinity levels of the lake.
Impact of Human Activity
The intensifying human activity in Lake Huron has been known to have further exacerbated these tidal changes. The main culprits are pollution and overfishing as both of these activities increase the turbidity of the lake and cause significant decreases in population sizes.
The disruptions of natural habitats due to increased human intervention in Lake Huron also play a role in the altering of the tides. For example, the construction of dams on the tributaries of the Lake is known to alter the tidal ranges in the area and cause a significant rise in the sea level.
Changes in Tidal Range
Despite all of the above-mentioned influences, Lake Huron still does not experience a tide as such. The highest changes in the water level due to meteorological tides or seiches are 0.9 meters and 0.7 meters, respectively. This is less than the tidal range of any oceanic tide and just enough to be considered a positive wave.
The average water level of Lake Huron is thus known to have very little variation despite rough weather and human activity. This makes it one of the most stable and safe bodies of water in the world and a popular destination for ship navigators.
Advances in Research
Scientific studies have been conducted all around Lake Huron in order to measure the changes in the water levels due to tides and the effects of these on the environment. The studies have led to significant advancements in the understanding of how tides and water levels of the lake interact.
Thanks to the developments in measurement techniques, researchers are now able to accurately measure the effects of human activity on the environment and develop effective strategies to mitigate them. The studies have also helped to increase the understanding of how changes in weather and ocean conditions contribute to the changes in the water level of the lake.
Conclusion
To conclude, Lake Huron does not experience an oceanic tide but it is still affected by various other types of tides. The main and most pronounced type of tide observed in this lake is the meteorological tide, caused by narrow bands of strong winds pushing the surface of the water. Despite all of this, however, the water level of Lake Huron is still extremely stable and rarely changes due to the influences of tides. Scientific studies conducted around the Great Lake is helping to improve our understanding of the changes in water levels of Lake Huron as well as its effects on the aquatic species living there.
