1. What is Tidal Prism Filling Bay?

Tidal Prism Filling Bay is the volume of water in an estuary or inlet between mean high tide and mean low tide, or the volume of water leaving an estuary at ebb tide.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Tidal Prism Filling Bay (m³)
• \( aB \) — Bay Tide Amplitude (m)
• \( Ab \) — Surface Area of Bay (m²)

Explanation: The formula calculates the tidal prism volume by doubling the product of bay tide amplitude and surface area of the bay.

3. Importance of Tidal Prism Calculation

Details: Accurate tidal prism calculation is crucial for understanding tidal dynamics, sediment transport, and water exchange in coastal environments and estuaries.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter bay tide amplitude in meters and surface area of bay in square meters. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Bay Tide Amplitude?
A: Bay Tide Amplitude is the average difference between water levels at high and low tide in a bay or estuary.

Q2: How is Surface Area of Bay defined?
A: Surface Area of Bay is defined as a small body of water set off from the main body, typically measured at mean water level.

Q3: Why multiply by 2 in the formula?
A: The multiplication by 2 accounts for the complete tidal cycle, representing both the filling and emptying of the bay during a tidal period.

Q4: What are typical values for tidal prism?
A: Tidal prism values vary significantly based on bay size and tidal range, from thousands to millions of cubic meters depending on the specific estuary or bay.

Q5: How is this calculation used in coastal engineering?
A: Tidal prism calculations are essential for designing marinas, predicting sediment transport, assessing water quality, and planning coastal development projects.