What does tidal amplitude measure?

Tidal amplitude specifically measures the difference in height between the low and high water levels during a tidal cycle. It is an important aspect of understanding tidal patterns and behaviors, as it indicates how much water level fluctuates due to the gravitational effects of the moon and sun on Earth's oceans.

The tidal amplitude can vary greatly depending on the geographic location, the alignment of celestial bodies, and other factors. By determining this difference in height, scientists can predict tidal conditions which are crucial for navigation, marine life behavior, and coastal management.

Other concepts like the speed of tidal currents or ocean depths address different aspects of marine dynamics and do not relate directly to tidal amplitude. Temperature changes in ocean tides are also unrelated and focus more on thermal variations rather than the physical movement of water levels represented by tidal amplitude.