The moon doesn't cause ocean tides, claims UKIP MP Carswell

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UKIP MP Douglas Carswell has become embroiled in a bizarre argument with scientists over whether the moon or sun causes ocean tides. Contrary to the accepted wisdom that it is the moon which causes tides Carswell insists that the sun is responsible.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/ukip-douglas-carswel...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/doug...

The sun does have a small effect on tides but, contrary to Carswell's claims, the moon is in fact the major driver behind the tidal motion of the oceans, as everyone except him knew already.

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ash73 said:

He should join the climate thread he'd feel right at home.

Strangely enough, Douglas Carswell is indeed a climate change sceptic.

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vetrof said:

Pesty said:

Reminds me of this

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v7XXVLKWd3Q

Without even looking, that has to be Bill O'Reilly.

Nope, this is the Bill O'Reilly "Tides Go In, Tides Go Out" video -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzkRHFl2ppw

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don4l said:

Oh... this is a contentious subject.

If it was simply the gratitational effect of the moon, then high tides would only occur on the side facing the moon.

The Earth and moon orbit as a bound pair. The centre of rotation is beneath the Earth's surface. The resulting wobble means that centrifugal forces chuck the water out on both sides.

It really isn't a contentious subject at all. It has been well understood for hundreds of years. The moon causes the tides and the interaction of the sun's gravitational attraction is what causes neap tides at quadrature and spring tides at syzygy.

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CoolHands said:

I suspect humans aren't yet clever enough to understand how tides are created.

Some humans anyway.

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Jaroon said:

PH believe in atoms (for eg), never seen em...

I'll take "what is photoionization microscopy" for $400 please Alex.