Since these equations must be true identically, the coefficients
of Pi in each of them must vanish. Therefore
If we eliminate the α's and β's from the third equation (45), by
means of the first two, we find
Solution for Tesseral Oscillations.
(46)
where
In the case of the luni-solar semi-diurnal tide (called K2 in the
notation of harmonic analysis) we have i=2, s=2, σ=2. Hence
it would appear that these formulae for Li and ξi-2 fail by becoming
indeterminate, but i and s are rigorously integers, whereas σ depends
on the “ speed ” of the tide; accordingly in the case referred to we
must regard terms involving (i-s) as vanishing in the limit when
σ approaches to equality with i (i-1). For this particular case
then we find
.
The equation (46) for the successive C's is available for all values of
i provided that C-1, E-1, C0, E0 are regarded as being zero.
As in the case of the zonal oscillations, the equations with odd
suffixes separate themselves from those with even suffixes, so that
the two series may be treated independently of one another. Indeed,
as we shall see immediately, the series with odd suffixes are
satisfied by putting all the C's with odd suffixes zero for the case of
such oscillations as may be generated by the attractions of the moon
or sun.
For the semi-diurnal tides i=2, s==2, and f is approximately
equal to unity. Hence the equilibrium tide is such that all the
Ei, excepting E22, are zero.
For the diurnal tides i=2, s=1, and f is approximately equal
to 1/2. Hence all the Ei, excepting E1/2, are zero. Since in neither
case is there any E with an odd suffix, we need only consider those
with even suffixes.
In both cases the first equation among the C's is A
It follows that if we write
the equation of condition amongst the C's would be of general applicability
for all even values of i from 2 upwards.
The symbols ξ0, η2, do not occur in any of the equations, and
therefore we may arbitrarily define them as denoting unity, although
the general formulae for ξ and η would give them other values.
Accordingly we shall take
With this definition the equation
is applicable for i=2, 4, 6, &c.
It may be proved as in the case of the tides of long period that we
may regard Ci/Ci+2 as tending to zero. Then our equation may be
written in the form
,
and by successive applications the right-hand side may be expressed
in the form of a continued fraction. Let us write
Hence our equation may be written
Whence
It follows that
&c.
Then since we have defined
,
all the C's are expressed in terms of known quantities. Hence the
height of tide b is given by
But the equilibrium tide e is given by
.
Hence we may write our result in the following form, which shows the
relationship between the true dynamical tide and equilibrium
tide:—
From a formula equivalent to this Mr Hough finds for the lunar
semi-diurnal tide (s=2), for a sea of 1210 fathoms ,
.
This formula shows us that at the equator the tide is “inverted,”
and has 2.4187 times as great a range as the equilibrium tide.
For this same ocean he finds that the solar semi-diurnal tide is
“ direct ” at the equator, and has a range 7.9548 as great as the
equilibrium tide.
Now the lunar equilibrium tide is 2.2 times as great as the solar
equilibrium tide, and since 2.2 × 2.4187 is only 5.3, it follows that
in such an ocean the solar tides would have a range half as great
again as the lunar. Further, since the lunar tides are “inverted”
and the solar “ direct,” spring tide would occur at quarter moon
and neap tide at full and change.
We give one more example from amongst those computed by Mr
Hough. In an ocean of 9680 fathoms (γ/4ma=1/5), he finds
.
At the equator the tides are “ direct ” and have a range of 1.9225 as
great as the equilibrium tide. In this case the tides approximate
in type to those of the equilibrium theory, although at the equator,
at least, they have nearly twice the range.
We do not give any numerical results for the diurnal tides, for
reasons which will appear from the following section.
§ 19. Diurnal Tide approximately evanescent.—The equilibrium
diurnal tide is given by
e=E1/2P1/2 cos(2nft + Φ + a),
where f is approximately 1/2 and the associated function for i=2,
s=1 is
P1/2=3 sin θ cos θ.
Now the height of tide is given by
,
and the problem is to evaluate the constants Ci.
If possible suppose that b is also expressed by a single term like
that which represents e, so that
b=3C1/2 sin θ cos θ cos (2nft + Φ + a)
Then the differential equation (22) to be satisfied becomes
,
where u is written for brevity in place of sin θ cos θ.
Now when f is rigorously equal to 1/2 it may be proved by actual
differentiation that the expression inside the brackets { } vanishes
identically, and the equation reduces to C1/2 = 0.
We thus find that in this case the differential equation is satisfied
by zero oscillation of water-level. In other words we reach Laplace's
remarkable conclusion that there is no diurnal rise and fall of the
tides. There are, it is true, diurnal tidal currents, but they are so
arranged that the water level remains unchanged.
In reality f is not rigorously 1/2 (except for the tide called K2 and
there will be a small diurnal tide. The lunar diurnal tide called O
has been evaluated for various depths of ocean by Mr Hough and is
found always to be small.
§ 20. Free Oscillations of the Ocean.—Mr Hough discusses the
various types of free oscillations of the ocean. They are very complex,
and consist of westward waves and eastward waves of very
various periods. He finds, as was to be expected, that if for an
ocean of given depth, a free wave very nearly coincides in period