Seasons and sky
Diurnal Tide
Direct answer
Diurnal Tide: A Diurnal Tide is a tidal pattern with one high water and one low water during a lunar day.
A Diurnal Tide has one principal high and one principal low each lunar day.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Related
- Semidiurnal Tide, Mixed Tide, Astronomical Season, Equinox
A Diurnal Tide has one principal high and one principal low each lunar day.
A Sun-Earth orientation for seasonal, atmospheric, tidal, and terrestrial terms.
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The story behind Diurnal Tide
Global tide mapping showed that basin shape and constituent response produce strongly diurnal regimes in some seas and gulfs.
Why Diurnal Tide matters
Diurnal Tide’s longer single cycle differs substantially from the twice-daily pattern many visitors expect.
How to read Diurnal Tide
Diurnal Tide comes up when reading station predictions in regions where once-daily constituents dominate.
Diurnal Tide in practice: an example
Parts of the Gulf of Mexico commonly experience a predominantly Diurnal Tide.
Where readings of Diurnal Tide go wrong
A common error is to infer the local tide type from latitude alone; consult an official station analysis.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- NOAA Tides and Currents Glossary - Operational definitions for tides, tidal currents, ranges, datums, bores, and amphidromic systems.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Check the once-daily tide regime
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Common questions
What is a Diurnal Tide?
A Diurnal Tide is a tidal pattern with one high water and one low water during a lunar day.
What do people get wrong about a Diurnal Tide?
A common error is to infer the local tide type from latitude alone; consult an official station analysis.
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