Tide clock - Vlissingen, NL
Posted by: T-Team!
N 51° 26.412 E 003° 34.408
31U E 539857 N 5698933
This clock on the Boulevard of Vlissingen shows the tide of the Westerschelde
Waymark Code: WM14MX1
Location: Zeeland, Netherlands
Date Posted: 07/29/2021
Views: 1
"The office of Loodswezen Vlissingen is located on the Boulevard de Ruyter in Vlissingen. A tidal clock can be seen against the facade, on the fence above the name in blue color 'Loodswezen'. The tide clock gives an indication of the average tidal course for the Vlissingen roadstead.
This clock shows an apple-shaped surface with a white and a blue colored part. The apple-shaped surface (the 'tidal shape') is the so-called tidal curve of Vlissingen. The red pointer has a double function. On the one hand, this hand shows the hours after and before high water, respectively. On the other hand, the pointer acts as a dipstick. This continuously intersects the edges of the blue-white surface.
The tide clock in Vlissingen up close (photo De Zonnewijzerkring).
The tide clock in Vlissingen up close (photo De Zonnewijzerkring).
High water – low water
At high water (HW) the pointer completely covers the blue-white surface. Turning to the right, the surface becomes less and less covered. This means that the water level is dropping. After an average of 6 hours and 28 minutes it is low water (LW). The dipstick is then dry. Then you can see that the blue-white surface will be covered more and more until high water. In this way, the rise ('rise') and fall ('fall') of the water can be easily read and therefore also predicted.
From high water to high water it takes an average of 12 hours and 25 minutes. The hand of the tide clock runs all the way around once during that period. However, the tidal waves do not move at the same pace every week. One week they come faster, the other slower. This is related to the position of the moon and the sun in relation to each other.
Current
When the pointer moves to the golden triangle that is shown at the top right after the HW, the tide is turning. Before the water starts to descend, it stands 'still' for a while and there is virtually no current. Moments later, the water flows towards the sea. The ebb current starts. The letter 'P' here stands for 'Post' (= after) high water. At the triangle at the bottom left of the letters LW, the water is again 'still' for a while before it starts to rise. Then it will flow again. The flood flow starts. The letter 'A' stands for 'Ante' (= for) high water."
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