I’ve just learned that different parts of the ocean can have different levels. How does this work? If I drop water into a cup, the entire level of water in the cup rises. How is this not true for the ocean? Are their just parts of the ocean that are uneven? Where do they meet?
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I can finally flex my knowledge on a niche topic! It has to do with the moon!
Basically, the earth is a rock, a spherical rock with its own gravity. This gravity holds liquid water to its surface. So imagine if you will, that the earth is perfectly smooth, and that the whole world was covered in a thin layer of water. With no interference, the water will cover the earth evenly.
Now add the moon with its own gravity. It starts pulling the earth towards it, and vice versa. Since the earth is a hard rock, it doesn’t change shape, but water can change shape, so it bulges towards the moon a little. So now, the side with the moon is a little deeper than the side without the moon.
TLDR: The moon pulls water towards itself. That bulge will be deeper and follow the moon around.
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