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1. Why does much of the Gulf of Mexico experience only one
high and low tide per day, rather than the usual two?
2. Why does Lake Ponchatrain (a relatively large, but shallow
bay with avery small connection to the Gulf) not experience
tides of its own?
Although the acting forces are well understood, the resultant tidal movement------------------------------------------------
is exceedingly complicated because of the irregular distribution of land and
water of the Earth and the retarding effects of friction and inertia. Contrary to
the popular idea of a progressive tidal wave following the Moon around the
Earth, the basic tidal movement as evidenced by observations at numerous
points along the shores of the oceans consists of a number of oscillating
areas, the movement being somewhat similar to that in a pan of water that
has been tilted. Such oscillations are technically known as stationary waves.