Editing Physical oceanography (section)

===Tides===
{{main|Tides}}
[[Image:Wpdms nasa topo bay of fundy - en.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Bay of Fundy is a bay located on the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast of [[North America]], on the northeast end of the [[Gulf of Maine]] between the [[Provinces of Canada|provinces]] of [[New Brunswick]] and [[Nova Scotia]].]]
The rise and fall of the oceans due to tidal effects is a key influence upon the coastal areas. Ocean tides on the planet Earth are created by the gravitational effects of the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]]. The tides produced by these two bodies are roughly comparable in magnitude, but the orbital motion of the Moon results in tidal patterns that vary over the course of a month.

The ebb and flow of the tides produce a cyclical current along the coast, and the strength of this current can be quite dramatic along narrow estuaries. Incoming tides can also produce a [[tidal bore]] along a river or narrow bay as the water flow against the current results in a wave on the surface.

''Tide and Current'' (Wyban 1992) clearly illustrates the impact of these natural cycles on the lifestyle and livelihood of [[Native Hawaiians]] tending coastal fishponds. ''Aia ke ola ka hana'' meaning . . . ''Life is in labor''.

''[[Tidal resonance]]'' occurs in the [[Bay of Fundy]] since the time it takes for a large [[wave]] to travel from the mouth of the [[bay]] to the opposite end, then reflect and travel back to the mouth of the bay coincides with the tidal rhythm producing the world's highest tides.

As the surface tide oscillates over topography, such as submerged seamounts or ridges, it generates [[internal waves]] at the tidal frequency, which are known as [[internal tides]].