Tidal Constituents

Happy Mother's Day to all of the great mothers, women, and support systems everywhere. Shoutout to my Mom, Vidhya. My mom is probably the coolest and most inspiring woman ever in the entire history of this earth. She is super super smart, funny, kind, and a great dancer, singer, chef, and artist #multi talented. Even though we bicker, I am slowly coming to the realization that my mom is usually always right. Everything that I have achieved today has been through her love and support. I could not have done it without you. LOVE YOU MOM!!!!

Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean and home to 4 major mountain regions. Some of the major environmental issues that Jamaica faces are: deforestation; pollution of coastal waters by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; and air pollution in cities [1]. However, to combat these issues Jamaica is turning towards nature-based solutions such as protection and restoration [2]. Issues caused by climate change such as hurricanes, flooding, and coastal erosion are being mitigated through community planning, coastal habitat restoration, and policy implementation.

Most Common Tidal Constituents in the Caribbean Sea [3]:

M2 (Principal Lunar Semidiurnal): The largest lunar constituent, representing roughly half of the semi-diurnal tidal range.

S2 (Principal Solar Semidiurnal): The largest solar constituent, often combined with M2 to dictate the fortnightly spring/neap cycle.

N2 (Larger Lunar Elliptic Semidiurnal Constituent): Represents the modulation of the main lunar tide M2 due to the moon's elliptical orbit.

Cite:

[1] “Jamaica | WESR - CCA Portal,” wesr-cca.unepgrid.ch. https://wesr-cca.unepgrid.ch/cca/jamaica

[2] TNC, "Jamaica," The Nature Conservancy. [PDF]. Available: https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/d...

[3] B. Kjerfve, "Tides of the Caribbean Sea," [Journal Name Unknown - Please Verify], vol., no., pp., [Year Unknown - Please Verify]. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bjoern-Kjerfv...

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Happy 4/20!

vibes for this week: party, hip hop, baddie music

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world and has the fourth largest population. Around 60% of this population lives along the coastlines of Indonesia and they are vulnerable to natural disasters such as sea level rise and extreme weather events due to climate change [1]. Indonesia’s sea level rise is around 4.97 mm per year on average. This number is already higher than the global average and some areas of the Indonesian coast are experiencing sea level rise at significantly higher rates. Parts of Indonesia is also facing land subsidence which occurs when too much groundwater is pumped from underground aquifers, which causes the land itself to sink. Furthermore, there has been an increased amount of coastal flooding which has a significantly larger impact due to the removal of around 40% of mangrove forests and other coastal vegetation. These organisms acted as carbon storage units and natural barriers against erosion and tidal movement [2]. This will also negatively impact Indonesia's "blue economy" which consists of farming, fishing, and other coastal/ocean sectors [1]. Positively, groups such as Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) are working towards conservation and restoration efforts that support sustainable development, economic stability, and climate resilience [3].

Most Common Tidal Constituents in Djkarta Indonesia [4]:

M2 (Principal Lunar Semidiurnal): The largest lunar constituent, representing roughly half of the semi-diurnal tidal range.

S2 (Principal Solar Semidiurnal): The largest solar constituent, often combined with M2 to dictate the fortnightly spring/neap cycle.

N2 (Larger Lunar Elliptic Semidiurnal Constituent): Represents the modulation of the main lunar tide M2 due to the moon's elliptical orbit.

Cite:

[1]“Indonesia Oceans and Coasts,” The Nature Conservancy. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-wor...

[2] “Impacts of Rising Sea Levels on Indonesia’s Coastline | Oxfam Australia,” Oxfam Australia, Dec. 02, 2025. https://www.oxfam.org.au/blog/indonesia-rising-sea...

‌[3]“Program YKAN,” Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), 2019. https://www.ykan.or.id/en/program/ (accessed May 01, 2026).

[4]“Harmonic Constituents - NOAA Tides & Currents,” Noaa.gov, 2026. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/harcon.html?id=6... (accessed May 01, 2026).

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vibes of this week: nostalgia, happy, yay end of winter quarter!

Songdo Beach in Busan, South Korea was the first public access beach and it opened in 1913. One of the biggest issues that beaches in the Busan area are facing right now is extreme coastal erosion. A coastal erosion survey from 2024 showed that none of the 9 beaches in Busan received "A" ratings in terms of erosion. Most were given B or C ratings [2]. Furthermore, these beaches are also facing intense littering. However, this problem is actively being combatted through community clean-ups and intervention [3]. Happy last week of winter quarter, have a great spring break everyone!!

Most Common Tidal Constituents on the Korea-Tsushima Strait [1]:

M2 (Principal Lunar Semidiurnal): The largest lunar constituent, representing roughly half of the semi-diurnal tidal range.

S2 (Principal Solar Semidiurnal): The largest solar constituent, often combined with M2 to dictate the fortnightly spring/neap cycle.

K1 (Luni-solar Diurnal): A major diurnal constituent affecting the inequality between the two daily high or low tides.

O1 (Lunar Diurnal): A major diurnal constituent.

Cite:

[1] W. J. Teague, H. T. Perkins, G. A. Jacobs, and J. W. Book, “Tide observations in the Korea-Tsushima Strait,” Continental Shelf Research, vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 545–561, Feb. 2001. doi: 10.1016/S0278-4343(00)00110-2.

[2] H.-j. Kim, “It was pointed out that coastal erosion at beaches in Busan is so serious that coastal management measures should be urgently prepared,” Maeil Business Newspaper, Jun. 06, 2025. Accessed: Apr. 05, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.mk.co.kr/en/society/11336066

[3] "School Children Team Up with UN and NGOs to Clean Busan Beach on World Environment Day," UNEP NOWPAP. Jun. 05, 2018. Accessed: Apr. 05, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.unep.org/nowpap/index.php/news-and-stories/story/school-children-team-un-and-ngos-clean-busan-beach-world-environment-day

vibes of this week: happy, folkdance, exciting

Ireland has some of the prettiest coastlines, and so I thought it would be fun to highlight one of them. Ireland is definitely on my bucket list to visit so this was a super fun week to do. The Wild Atlantic Way is considered the longest coastal touring route. This area also hosts the countries tallest mountain [1]. The traditional music played by the Irish came to the country with the Celts 2,000 years ago. The Celts were influenced by the music of the East, and it’s believed that the traditional Irish harp may have originated in Egypt [3]. The western coast of Ireland is dominated by rocky coasts, whereas the eastern coast has more soft sediment. Approximately, 25% of Ireland's coast is subject to erosion. This erosion seems to be affect sediment bays on the western and northern coasts, as well as most of the eastern coasts. Ireland is also expecting a increase in severity of coastal storms due to climate change and sea level rise. The specific effects of coastal erosion that the sediment-dominated areas of Ireland will be facing are: Cliff retreat, movement of dunes and barriers, and the lowering of sand levels on beaches with loss of fine sediment.

Most Common Tidal Constituents on the West Coast of Ireland [2]:

M2 (Principal Lunar Semidiurnal): The largest lunar constituent, representing roughly half of the semi-diurnal tidal range.

S2 (Principal Solar Semidiurnal): The largest solar constituent, often combined with M2 to dictate the fortnightly spring/neap cycle.

Cite:

[1] “10 things you didn’t know about the Wild Atlantic Way,” Wild Atlantic Way, Discover Ireland. [Online]. Available: https://www.discoverireland.ie/wild-atlantic-way/f.... [Accessed: Mar. 9, 2026].

[2] L. Ren, G. Pan, L. Yang, Y. Wang, G. Zheng, P. Yao, Q. Zhu, Z. Zhu, and M. Hartnett, “Assessment of Ocean Circulation Characteristics off the West Coast of Ireland Using HF Radar,” Remote Sensing, vol. 15, no. 22, p. 5395, Nov. 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/22/5395

[3] F. Mulraney, “The history and origins of traditional Irish music,” IrishCentral, Jan. 17, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/irish-t.... [Accessed: Mar. 9, 2026].

[4] Environmental Protection Agency, “Coastal erosion,” Climate Ireland. [Online]. Available: https://www.climateireland.ie/impact-on-ireland/cl.... [Accessed: Mar. 9, 2026].

vibes for this week: happy, dance, gay

The Island of Lesbos/Lesvos is in the Eastern Aegean and off the coast of Turkey. It is the third largest Greek Island. The island of Lesbos is known for its inhabitant Sappho. Sappho was a Poetess in c. 620-570 BCE. Her poems earned her the title of being the 10th muse. The poems that they found of hers contained writings of love between women. Yay! Let's go lesbians. The Island of Lesbos has a long history of fighting and capture and also became a center for Christianity after being claimed as part of the Roman Empire [1]. Since Lesbos is culturally considered a large part of Lesbianism. I decided to make this playlist with that in mind. This playlist features mostly Lesbian/Queer artists including activists. This playlist also has a lot of fun Greek songs as well. One of the biggest issues that the Island of Lesbos is facing is drought. According to the 2012 IPCC report, Southern Europe is projected to experience more intense and longer droughts than other European regions [2].

Most Common Tidal Constituents in Aegan Sea:

M2 (Principal Lunar Semidiurnal): The largest lunar constituent, representing roughly half of the semi-diurnal tidal range.

S2 (Principal Solar Semidiurnal): The largest solar constituent, often combined with M2 to dictate the fortnightly spring/neap cycle.

Cite:

[1] M. Cartwright, “Lesbos,” World History Encyclopedia, Aug. 28, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.worldhistory.org/lesbos/. [Accessed: Mar. 1, 2026].

[2] S. Megens, Unveiling the Silent Struggle: Drought Challenges in the Mediterranean Islands – The Case of Lesvos in Greece, May 2024. [Online]. Available: https://droughtclp.unccd.int/system/files/2024-05/.... [Accessed: Mar. 1, 2026].

vibes for the week: intense, toxic vengeful??

Imperial Beach is in San Diego, California and is subject to frequent closings due to high bacteria levels from sewage pollution. The sewage pollution comes from the Tijuana River, which is one of the most polluted rivers in the country. When there is rainfall in the area it floods the river which leads to untreated wastewater/sewage flowing into the Tijuana River which subsequently flows into the Imperial Beach area. This has become an even more complicated issue as the sea spray from the beach contains toxins and bacteria and has started to pollute the air as well. Kim Prather of UC San Diego has said that “We’ve shown that up to three-quarters of the bacteria that you breathe in at Imperial Beach are coming from aerosolization of raw sewage in the surf zone" [1]. The research done by Prather and others does not necessarily mean that people are getting sick due to this, but it points out that contamination from water does not necessarily only come from swimming in the water. This aerosolization also leads to foul smells that permeate the air in the Imperial Beach area which triggers headaches, nausea, eye irritation and respiratory distress. And there are other chemicals, viruses and bacteria in the mix [2]. Another issue that complicates this is that the pollution in the Tijuana River spans multiple countries including the US and Mexico. Improvements need to be made to the wastewater treatment systems in Mexico and in the US in that area so that it does not pollute the Tijuana River. There has been improvements. "The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant... is now fully functioning and expanded its capacity from 25 million to 35 million gallons of wastewater per day." [2]. However, due to federal funding cuts, projects like these and others are threatened. Imperial Beach is one of many coastlines that are polluted and affected by society. It's important to be grateful for our beaches and mindful of the impact we make. The next time you visit the coastline, pick up a piece of trash or try to leave the area better than when you found it! Happy listening!!

Most common Tidal Constituents for Imperial Beach/ San Diego [3];[4]:

M2 (Principal Lunar Semidiurnal): The largest lunar constituent, representing roughly half of the semi-diurnal tidal range.

S2 (Principal Solar Semidiurnal): The largest solar constituent, often combined with M2 to dictate the fortnightly spring/neap cycle.

K1 (Luni-solar Diurnal): A major diurnal constituent affecting the inequality between the two daily high or low tides.

O1 (Lunar Diurnal): A major diurnal constituent.

Cite:

[1] R. Monroe, “Coastal water pollution transfers to the air in sea spray aerosol and reaches people on land,” UC San Diego Today, Mar. 2, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/coastal-water-pollution-transfers-to-the-air-in-sea-spray-aerosol-and-reaches-people-on-land

[2] D. S. Brennan, “Tijuana River sewage still pollutes the San Diego Coast. A surfer turned politician is fighting to clean it up,” CalMatters, Dec. 5, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/12/tijuana...

[3] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Harmonic Analysis,” NOAA Tides & Currents, accessed Feb. 22, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/harmonic.html

[4] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Tides & Currents: Imperial Beach (Station ID 9410120), accessed Feb. 22, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stationhome.html...

vibes of this week: happy, loving

Happy Valentine's day weekend! Make sure to say I LOVE YOU to friends, family, and significant others! I thought it would be perfect to talk about Lovers Beach in Cabo, Mexico AKA Playa del Amor. There are many reasons why this area is called Lover's Beach. Some say it is because the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean are united in this area, others say it's because this area is so beautiful it inspires love, and the last reason comes from legend. In the 18th Century, a Japanese sailor was rescued by a inhabitant of the Cabo region. The two fell head over heels on this beach but alas, their love was not meant to last. The inhabitant of the region's father did not approve of the relationship, and flew into a fit of rage. During this fit, he attacked and killed the Japanese sailor. The inhabitant was wrecked with sadness and decided to take their life in hopes to meet their lover in the afterlife [1].

Most common Tidal Constituents for Cabo San Lucas + San Felipe [2]:

M2: Principal lunar semidiurnal constituent

S2: Principal solar semidiurnal constituent

N2: Larger lunar elliptic semidiurnal constituent

One of the biggest issues that the Mexican Peninsula and Cabo is facing is loss of biodiversity due to the tourism industry. The tourism sector in the Mexican Caribbean generates 400 tons of waste per day, largely plastic waste, and makes up about one third of the entire region’s total amount of waste and there is no strong infrastructure in place to process this waste. According to The Nature Conservancy, an 80% of coral along Mexico’s Caribbean coast has died or suffered damages since the 1980s, due to pollution, disease, overfishing and violent storms. A 2018 report stated that 50% of Mexico's reefs were in poor condition. Mexico is home to 10% of the world's species and although this degradation is rampant, there are still no laws restricting expansion and development in this area. In 2012, Mexico passed a law acknowledging their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, however there is no real criteria being enforced to meet this goal. There are some efforts in reducing environmental harm. A coral reef in Cabo Pulmo National Park located in Mexico’s Baja California Sur, was recently saved from developmental plans to build a massive tourism and real estate complex called Cabo Cortes [3].

Cite:

[1] Cabo San Lucas Net, “Lover’s Beach, Cabo San Lucas,” Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. [Online]. Available: https://www.cabosanlucas.net/what-to-do/lovers-bea.... [Accessed: Feb. 7, 2026].

[2] S. G. Marinone, “Tidal residual currents in the Gulf of California: Is the M₂ tidal constituent sufficient to induce them?,” Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, vol. 102, no. C4, pp. 8611–8623, Apr. 1997, doi: 10.1029/96JC03835.

[3] Ecology Project International, “Uncontrolled Tourism and the Effect on Mexico’s Ecology,” EcologyProject.org. [Online]. Available: https://www.ecologyproject.org/tourism-and-mexico-.... [Accessed: Feb. 7, 2026].

vibes of this week: lit, summer nostalgic, forever young

Lowkey I know the weather is kinda bad right now, so think of this as a way of escapism #midnight sun as Zara Larsson says!

The Outer Banks (Low Country) of South Carolina was made popular through the hit Netflix tv show "Outer Banks." We can characterize the "Low Country" of South Carolina as an estuarine. An estuary is are areas where freshwater and saltwater mix, which creates a habitat for biodiversity and unique plant and animal communities [1]. The coast of the South Carolina Lowcountry and Southeast Georgia experiences a tidal change around every six hours, two low tides and two high tides a day. The difference in water levels between low and high tide can range between four to six feet on an average day [2].

Most common Tidal Constituents for Charleston, South Carolina [3]:

M2: Principal lunar semidiurnal constituent

S2: Principal solar semidiurnal constituent

N2: Larger lunar elliptic semidiurnal constituent

Originally there were Native Americans in Lowcountry, but due to colonization, disease, and warfare, the population dwindled. A few of the surviving ones are: Escamacu (the largest and southernmost tribe); Hoya (a much smaller tribe, near the Escamacu); Edisto (on the Broad River), and others [4]. Currently, South Carolina's "Low Country" is facing damaging coastal projects such as destroying and filling wetlands and deforestation. However, SELC recently passed a new city ordinance which bans “slab-on-grade” foundations in the 100-year floodplain. The building practice — which involves piling dirt, pouring concrete, and building directly on a concrete slab — can exacerbate flood risks for neighboring areas and is expensive and difficult to upgrade [5].

I hope y'all like this playlist, happy listening!!!

Cite:

[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “What is an estuary?”, NOAA Ocean Service. [Online]. Available: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/estuary.html. Accessed: Jan. 30, 2026.

[2] N. Dixon, “The Tidal Patterns of the South Carolina Lowcountry and Southeast Georgia,” National Weather Service – Charleston, SC, Weather.gov. [Online]. Available: https://www.weather.gov/chs/tides. Accessed: Jan. 30, 2026

[3] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Harmonic Constituents for Station 8665530 (Charleston, SC),” NOAA Tides & Currents. [Online]. Available: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/harcon.html?id=8.... Accessed: Jan. 30, 2026.

[4] National Endowment for the Humanities, Nic Butler, Ph.D., “The First People of the South Carolina Lowcountry,” Charleston County Public Library – Charleston Time Machine. [Online]. Available: https://www.ccpl.org/charleston-time-machine/first.... Accessed: Jan. 30, 2026.

[5] Southern Environmental Law Center, “South Carolina Update – Fall 2024,” Southern Environmental Law Center. [Online]. Available: https://www.selc.org/south-carolina_fall_winter_20.... Accessed: Jan. 30, 2026.

vibes of this week: Bollywood, beach, sunsets, party

Goa, India is known for its amazing EDM club scene and beautiful ocean views. Goa is one of the smallest states in India but they host some of the most renowned parties and shows. Goa was also colonized by Portugal. Konkani is the official language of Goa and there are also many tribes such as the Gauda, Kunbi, Velip, Dhangar, and Siddi. Due to colonization there is a lot of Portuguese influence in this area, creating an intricate blend of cultures. One of the dominant tidal/harmonic constituents is

M2 – The largest lunar constituent – is related to the direct gravitational effect of the Moon on the tides. The Earth rotates on its axis every 24-hours, but the Moon is orbiting in the same direction as the Earth’s rotation. It takes a location on the Earth an additional 50 minutes to “catch up” to the Moon. This results in a tidal signal (M2) which has 2 peaks every 24-hours and 50 minutes [1].

Some of the environmental issues that the Goa coast faces are soil erosion, groundwater depletion, and unsustainable land use practices. These issues are further complicated by intense monsoon rains, mining activities, and the development of urban and tourism infrastructure. Some ways that Goa is trying to combat this is through techniques such as contour trenching, percolation tanks, and agroforestry. See the citations down below for more information. Happy Listening!!!!!!!

Cite:

[1] NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, “About Harmonic Constituents,” Tides & Currents, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Online. Available: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/about_harmonic_c...Accessed: Jan. 23, 2026.

[2] S. Mandal, P. R. Shanas, S. Yuvaraj, D. Joseph, P. Aravind, J. George, J. Singh, and V. Sanil Kumar, “Evaluating the estuarine tidal discharge through water stage component analysis and in-situ measurement — Case study Mandovi–Zuari estuary of Goa, India,” Regional Studies in Marine Science, vol. 66, Art. no. 103124, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103124.

[3] C. A. Noronha-D’Mello and S. Singh, “Geochemical characterization of mangrove sediments of the Zuari estuarine system, West coast of India,” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 167, part B, pp. 313–325, Dec. 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2015.09.011.

[4[ B. Basavareddy, S. Bhattacharjee, and S. Desai, “Soil and water conservation measures in Goa: Protecting paradise for future generations,” Agriallis, vol. 7, no. 3, Article AL04442, Apr. 2025. Available: https://agriallis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/S...

[5] ItsGoa, “Tribes of Goa: Guardians of Tradition and Culture,” ItsGoa, May 2025. [Online]. Available: https://itsgoa.com/tribes-of-goa. Accessed: Jan. 23, 2026.