Positive and Negative Impact of Tide

Tide has many effects on human life. The impact of tide discuss below-

Positive Impact of Tide:

1. Shipping: Tides are helpful in making rivers navigable for large vessels. During the high tide, the amount of river water & height of river water increases. At that time, large vessels/ships can easily come to rive port. Again, during the low tide, ships can be returned from port to sea. 

For example- London & Kolkata have become important ports because of the tidal waves in the Thames & the Hooghly rivers respectively.

2. Pollution-free Environment: When tidal water flows, rivers are free of garbage. As a result, the environment is not pollutant near the river areas.
3. Obstruction of Sediments deposited & Delta Formation: As a result of the tide, sediments not to deposited & prevents delta formation. 

For example- In the Sundarbans, small creeks are capable of navigating during tides. 

4. Regular Water flow: During the tide, sea salt water enters the rivers, as a result river & port are often free of ice & help maintain regular flow of water.

For example- Riverside of British Island is free of snow even in winter.

5. Electric Power Generation: The tidal force may also be used as a source for generating electricity.

For example- France & Japan have power stations which convert tidal energy into electricity.

 Negative Impact of Tide:

i.               Salt Increase: When a large amount of water enters the river during the tide, the fresh water becomes saline. As a result, water can not be used for irrigation in agriculture & industry. 

ii.              Fatalities: Small ships, lodge, boats sometimes sink as heavy rains come into the river & even fatalities happen.

iii.            Damage to the Coast: High tide leads to coastal damage.

iv.            Sediments Deposited: Many times, when the river water flow is low then sediments deposited in the rivers.

v.              Flooding: When the intensity of tide increases, then coastal area is flooded.  

Fig. Tides at various times of the day as the earth rotates during a full moon (North Pole view). The observer’s local time is indicated (note that the person is standing on the equator). Distance and sizes of the earth, the moon, and the sun are not to scale. (A) High tide at midnight (B) Low tide at 6:13 a.m. (C) High tide at 12:25 p.m. (D) Low tide at 6:38 p.m. (E) High tide at 12:50 a.m.