Ever pictured yourself sitting near the ocean side, perhaps on the beach, under the moonlight, and watching large waves crashing onto the shore? The waves somehow always seem bigger and more beautiful under the moonlight and during the night.
That is because waves are stronger at night. Ocean tides are often the strongest during the night because of the moon’s impact. This makes the waves look bigger too. At night, the distance between the moon and the earth decreases, and the gravitational force increases. Since the moon is closer to the earth, it has a stronger pull on the waves, and the waves become bigger.
The wind is also generally stronger at night, giving rise to bigger waves.
If you love the ocean and are interested in learning more about it, keep reading.
What Are Ocean Waves?
The question seems pretty simple to answer, but it is important to understand what waves are and how they operate to fully understand why waves are bigger at night.
Waves are the up and down or circular motion of water in the ocean, and they are typically triggered by strong winds.
How Are Waves Generated?
Waves are generated when the blowing wind transfers its energy to the water and causes a ripple effect on the water. The water begins to move in a circular motion, giving rise to waves.
To learn more about this, watch
Are Waves Different From Tides?
Tides are the rise and fall of the sea/ocean level. They are generated by the pull of the moon and the sun on the ocean surface.
Why Do Ocean Waves Look Bigger At Night?
Now that you have more context, it would be easier to understand why waves are bigger at night. Several factors contribute to it.
The Pull Of The Moon Is Stronger At Night
Since the moon is closer to the ocean at night, it has a stronger pull. The stronger pull of the moon attracts the ocean body towards it and causes tides to be generated. Tides generally make the waves seem bigger.
The Wind Is Stronger At Night?
During the day, the earth heats up, and warm air rises; that warm air is replaced by cooler air, and this causes the circulation of the wind. But night, Winds are confined above the surface night, so their energy is not dissipated. This makes the winds stronger at night.
The Stronger The Wind The Bigger The Waves
Is It Safe To Swim In The Ocean At Night?
This depends on several factors, including your expertise and the waves’ strength. If the waves are too strong because of the lunar effect and strong winds, then swimming in the ocean at night can prove dangerous.
The Bottom Line
Waves do appear bigger at night, and that is primarily because of the pull of the moon and the increased strength of the wind. These factors contribute to creating stronger waves, which may provide a beautiful view but are not always the safest to swim in.
