Damon Mcknight
Australia has some of the greatest tidal variations in the world, with the largest occurring in the north-west of the country, from Eighty Mile Beach to Wyndham in Western Australia. Here, the tidal range can exceed 11 metres, with the highest tides occurring during the March equinox, especially when coinciding with a full or new moon. The town of Derby in King Sound, Western Australia, experiences the highest tides in the country, reaching up to 11.8 metres. On the other hand, the smallest tidal variation in Australia can be found at Nornalup Inlet, where the difference between high and low tides can be as little as six centimetres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Largest tides in Australia | Kimberley coast, Derby, King Sound, Buccaneer Archipelago, Eighty Mile Beach to Wyndham, Far North Queensland |
| Largest tidal range in Australia | More than 11 metres |
| Largest tidal range in Australia's major ports | Derby, Western Australia |
| Highest tides in the world | Canada's Bay of Fundy, Burntcoat Head in Nova Scotia |
| Smallest tides in the world | The Mediterranean |
| Smallest tides in Australia | Nornalup Inlet, Mandurah in Western Australia |
| Average tidal range in southwest Australia | Less than a metre |
| Average tidal range in northwest Australia | More than eight metres |
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What You'll Learn
The largest tides in Australia are found in the northwest
In the Buccaneer Archipelago, which stretches east from Cape Leveque in the northwest, the world's fastest tidal race occurs. The incoming tides must navigate around the Dampier Peninsula and through the Sunday Island Strait before filling the enormous King Sound. This area is shaped like a huge shallow channel, which amplifies the tides. The town of Derby, situated in King Sound, experiences some of the largest tides in the world, reaching up to 11.8 metres during extreme tides.
The Kimberley coast in northwest Australia is known for its extraordinarily large tides, which are among the biggest in the world. This is due to the presence of an unusually massive continental shelf stretching hundreds of kilometres towards Indonesia. The unique shape of the coastline further amplifies the tides. The interaction of the sun, moon, and this massive continental shelf creates Australia's biggest tides in the Kimberley region.
The Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) in Australia exceeds 10 metres and occurs on the Northwest Coast. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon, and to a lesser extent, the sun. During full and new moons, when the Earth, sun, and moon are nearly aligned, their combined gravitational forces result in higher high tides and lower low tides, known as spring tides.
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The smallest tidal variation in Australia is in Nornalup Inlet
Australia experiences some of the greatest tidal variations in the world, with the largest tidal range affecting the Australian coastline occurring in north-west Australia. Here, the Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) exceeds 10 metres, and the difference between high and low tides can be more than 11 metres during king tides. The largest tidal range along the Australian coastline can be expected around the times of the March equinox, especially if coinciding with a full or new moon.
However, the smallest tidal variation in Australia is found in Nornalup Inlet, where the tidal range was just six centimetres between successive high and low tides over a 24-hour period on 6 August 2019. Nornalup Inlet is renowned for having the least tidal variation of anywhere on the entire continental coast of Australia. This is due to external factors such as freshwater runoff from the Frankland River and strong winds or wave action at the mouth of the inlet, which influence the tides more than gravitational forces.
While Nornalup Inlet has the smallest tidal variation of any unmodified, natural coastal location in Australia, there are smaller tidal ranges recorded on gauges inside highly modified inlets such as Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania and Illawarra Inlet in New South Wales. Worldwide, the smallest tidal ranges are found in the open ocean, along open ocean coastlines, and in partially enclosed seas such as the Mediterranean, where tides peak at just 2-3cm.
Although Australia does not have the most extreme tidal variations globally, with the Bay of Fundy and Ungava Bay in Canada providing the most extreme variations of up to 16.3 metres, certain areas of Australia's coastline experience dramatic differences in tidal range. This variation is influenced by the response of the ocean to astronomical tidal forces, as well as the shape and depth of ocean basins, bays, and estuaries, which can create a funnelling effect that amplifies the tides.
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Tides are influenced by the moon and the sun
Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the moon, which is strong enough to displace the oceans towards the moon. The moon's gravitational pull is about twice that of the sun. The sun's gravitational pull also influences the tides, although to a lesser degree. The sun and the moon do not have an equal role in the Earth's tides. When the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned (at the time of the new or full moon), the solar tide has an additive effect on the lunar tide, creating extra-high high tides and very low low tides, known as spring tides. When the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, the solar tide partially cancels out the lunar tide and produces moderate tides, known as neap tides. The moon's declination (angular height above the equator), local geography and topography, and water depth also influence tides. All of these factors combine to create a complex tidal system across the world's oceans.
The shape of the coastline also plays a major role in determining the size of the tidal range. For example, regions with a funnel-like coastline and a long, gently sloping shape of the seabed will magnify the tidal influences. The shape of the local coast influences whether tides are "macro" tides or normal king tides. King Sound, where Derby is situated, is an extension of the wide, shallow north-west continental shelf. When the water comes in from deeper areas, it is constricted and squeezed by the shallow continental shelf, causing the currents to increase as they try to move the water onto the shelf, amplifying the tide as it moves shoreward.
The largest tidal range affecting the Australian coastline can be expected around the times of the March equinox, especially if the equinox coincides with either a full or new moon. The largest tidal variation in Australia occurs in north-west Australia, from Eighty Mile Beach to Wyndham in Western Australia, where giant tides pour over extensive tidal flats twice daily. The highest tides in the world are found in Canada's Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia, with tidal ranges of up to 16.3 metres.
The smallest tidal variation in Australia is found at Nornalup Inlet, which had just six centimetres of variation between high and low tides over a full 24-hour period in 2019. However, this small tidal variation is influenced by external factors such as freshwater runoff and strong winds rather than the gravitational forces of the moon and sun. The smallest tides in the world occur in the Mediterranean, peaking at just 2-3cm.
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The world's largest tides are in Canada's Bay of Fundy
Australia has some of the greatest tidal variations in the world. However, the Bay of Fundy in Canada provides the most extreme tidal variation. These tidal variations can result in a staggering difference of up to 16.3 metres between high and low tides. The Bay of Fundy, located between the provinces of Nova Scotia and Brunswick, has the highest tidal variations in the world. The water level near Wolfville, in Nova Scotia's Minas Basin, can be as much as 53 feet (16 meters) higher than at low tide. The natural period of oscillation in the Bay of Fundy is approximately 12 hours, which is also the time for one tidal oscillation (a high/low tide cycle). This results in the much larger tidal ranges observed in the bay.
The huge volume of tidal water flowing through the bay four times daily has created unique features, such as the "Old Sow" whirlpool, the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The "Reversing Falls" is another fascinating feature, where a series of rapids on the Saint John River change direction with each flood and ebb tide. The Hopewell Rocks are also a notable attraction, offering the opportunity to walk along the beach and explore rocky islands and cliff-wall caves at different tide levels.
The Bay of Fundy's length and shape play crucial roles in the occurrence of these extreme tides. The bay becomes narrower and shallower towards its head, forcing the water higher up the shores. Additionally, the coinciding of the tide cycle and the bay's oscillation period amplifies the tidal influence. The tidal range in the Bay of Fundy can be as much as four to eight feet (1.5-2.5 meters) along the Atlantic side of Nova Scotia, but this increases significantly within the bay due to its funnel-like shape and the physics of liquid oscillation.
The Bay of Fundy's tides are a remarkable natural phenomenon, attracting visitors from around the world. Visitors can walk along the coast at Alma Beach during low tide, exploring the tidal flats and the unique features created by the extreme tides. The combination of resonance (or seiche) and the shape of the bay contributes to the high tides, creating a natural rocking motion similar to the movement of water in a bathtub.
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Tides can be deadly and must be considered when boating
In far north Queensland, the other area of Australia that experiences particularly large king tides, tides can enter estuaries and produce tidal bore waves in locations like the Styx River. The Daly and Victoria Rivers in the Northern Territory also experience these large tidal variations. These areas of large tidal range can look very different at high and low tide, and the incoming tide can catch people unaware with deadly consequences. Tidal currents are typically stronger in areas of large tidal range or during periods of increased tidal range (spring tides). Spring tides are characterised by higher high tides and lower low tides than neap tides, and they occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned (at the time of the new or full moon). During these times, the gravitational pull of the sun is "added" to the gravitational pull of the moon on Earth, causing the oceans to bulge more than usual.
The smallest tidal variations in Australia can be found in the Nornalup Inlet, where the tidal range was just six centimetres between successive high and low tides over a full 24-hour period on 6 August 2019. There are also smaller tidal ranges on tidal gauges inside the highly modified inlets at Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania and Illawarra Inlet in New South Wales. However, these harbour entrances have been extensively modified by humans, so we are restricting our focus to unmodified, natural coastal locations. In some locations, there can be little or no difference between successive high and low tides at certain times of the year (a 'zero' tidal range).
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Frequently asked questions
The largest tides in Australia occur near the town of Derby in King Sound, in north-west Australia, at the end of March and again at the end of April each year. Derby's tides can reach up to 11.8 metres.
The smallest tides in the world occur in the Mediterranean, peaking at just 2-3cm.
The smallest tidal variation in Australia is found at Nornalup Inlet, which had just six centimetres of difference between high and low tides over a 24-hour period.
Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the moon, which is strong enough to displace the oceans towards the moon. A similar displacement away from the moon occurs on the other side of the earth where the centrifugal force exceeds the moon’s gravitational pull.
