![]() The water in the lagoon then returns to closely match the same level as the sea outside. As the water turns the turbines, electricity is generated. Once the difference between water levels is optimised, the wicket gates are opened and water rushes into the lagoon through the bulb turbines mounted inside concrete turbine housings in a section of the breakwater wall. This creates a difference in water level height (head) between the inside of the lagoon and the sea. Unlike a barrage, where the structure spans an entire river estuary in a straight line, a tidal lagoon encloses an area of coastline with a high tidal range behind a breakwater, with a footprint carefully designed for the local environment.Īs the tide comes in (floods) the water is held back by the turbine wicket gates, which are used to control flow through the turbine and can be completely closed to stop water entering the lagoon. Tidal lagoons work in a similar way to tidal barrages by capturing a large volume of water behind a man-made structure which is then released to drive turbines and generate electricity. EIA Topics: Intertidal & Subtidal Benthic EcologyĪ tidal lagoon is a power station that generates electricity from the natural rise and fall of the tides.Register/Login: Project Updates & Interest in Supply Chain.This means that the high tide bulges are never directly lined up with the Moon, but a little ahead of it. Because the Moon is orbiting in the same direction as the Earth rotates, it takes extra time for any point on our planet to rotate and reach exactly below the Moon. Earth’s tidal bulges don’t line up exactly with the Moon’s position.From our view on Earth, these tides coincide with certain lunar phases since they occur when the Moon reaches specific positions in its orbit. When the Sun is at a right angle to the Moon, moderate tides, called neap tides, result. Twice a month, when the Earth, Sun, and Moon line up, their gravitational power combines to make exceptionally high tides, called spring tides, as well as very low tides where the water has been displaced.The timing and heights of the tide near you will be affected by those additional elements. Of course, in reality the Earth isn’t a smooth ball, so tides are also affected by the presence of continents, the shape of the Earth, the depth of the ocean in different locations, and more. Our observer sees the tides rise when passing through the bulges, and fall when passing through the low points. Rising and ebbing tides happen as Earth’s landmasses rotate through the tidal bulges created by the Moon’s gravitational pull.The Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth, combined with other, tangential forces, causes Earth’s water to be redistributed, ultimately creating bulges of water on the side closest to the Moon and the side farthest from the Moon.The low points are where low tides occur. On Earth, the Moon’s gravitational pull causes the oceans to bulge out on both the side closest to the Moon and the side farthest from the Moon. The Moon and Earth exert a gravitational pull on each other.See Tides article where these animations are used. These animations help to explain the science behind how the Moon affects the tides on Earth.
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