GULF OF MEXICO 



109 



iHul Predictions of Tides, by Paul Schureman 

 (1940). It will be sufficient for our purposes to 

 indicate the use of these constants in determining 

 types of tide and in deriving tidal characteristics. 

 Table 3 gives the four principal harmonic con- 



stants at the tide stations in the Gulf of Mexico 

 where they have been determined. The amplitude 

 of component Nj throughout the Gulf is small, 

 generally less than 0.1 foot, and is therefore not 

 included in the table. 



Table 3. — Harmonic constants, Gulf of Mexico 



It will be recalled that two characteristics 

 define or determine a given component tide, 

 namely, the amplitude and phase or the epoch 

 as the latter is generalW called with reference to 

 tides. Formerly, it was customary to refer the 

 epoch to the local meridian and to designate it 

 by the Greek letter "kappa." However, in com- 

 paring phases at different places it is more con- 

 venient to use a single meridian for reference, and 

 the meridian of Greenwich is used for this purpose. 



the phase being designated by G. In table 3 

 the phases are all referred to the meridian of 

 Greenwich. The stations in the table are listed 

 in order beginning at the eastern end of the north- 

 ern shore of the Gulf and continuing around the 

 periphery counterclockwise. For several of the 

 stations listed harmonic constants are available 

 for several series of observations in different years. 

 In such cases, the results from the latest year are 

 given in the table. 



