Tidal Bore

A tidal bore occurs along a coast where a river empties into an ocean or sea. A strong tide that pushes up the river is the tidal bore. This article will briefly throw light on the natural phenomenon known as a tidal bore.

Tidal Bore – Positive Surge, Sudden Change in Depth

  • A sudden change in the depth is known as a surge.
  • A tidal bore is a surge.
  • Tidal Bores are positive surges.
  • A positive surge happens when the channel suddenly becomes deeper.
  • A negative surge happens when the channel suddenly becomes shallower.

Tidal Bores – Coasts

  • Tidal bores are not seen on all the coasts.
  • There are some conditions which are necessary to have a tidal bore at the coast.
  • One of the conditions is that the river must be fairly shallow.
  • The outlet into the sea should be narrow.
  • The estuary (the place where the river meets the sea) must be flat and wide.
  • The coast should have a high tidal range. The tidal range is the area between low tide and high tide.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1

What happens when a tidal bore occurs?

It is a strong tide that pushes up the river, against the current. A tidal bore occurs along a coast where a river empties into an ocean or sea.
Q2

What is the largest tidal bore in the world?

The largest tidal river bore in the world is in the Qiantang river at Hangzhou in China. It can be over 4 m high, and 3 km wide. It can travel with a speed in excess of 15 mph.
Q3

How long does a tidal bore last?

Some bores continue to move upstream for about one-half hour after high water.
Q4

How tall is the tidal bore?

The actual rapids of a tidal bore are somewhere between 3 m and 4 m.
Q5

How many rivers have a bore?

As per some estimates, around 100 rivers across the globe are known to produce tidal bores.