As the earth spins, different parts of the world move under the two bulges of high water and experience high tides, giving the familiar two tides a day around Britain. In some parts of the world, local effects can mean only one tide a day, or even none. Wave period is also an indicator of the power of the waves. A ‘swell’ wave (10 seconds or more) is usually more powerful and will break with more force at the beach than a ‘choppy’ wave (6 seconds or less). The offshore wave forecast information represents wave conditions in open waters 1-2 miles from the beach. Individual waves vary in height, so we use a standard measure known as ‘significant wave height’. This represents the average height of the highest third of the waves. The highest individual waves that may be encountered have a height up to double the significant wave height. For example, if you’re at sea for several hours when offshore waves are forecasted to be 1m, there’s a good chance of encountering at least one wave in the 1.5-2m range. This is one of the most accurate forecasts of its type for the UK. Lifeguards can give you advice on waves if you’re planning to go into the water. Combining wave height, direction and period to give expected surf height The tide times tell you what time the water will be at its highest point (high tide) and at its lowest point (low tide).

If the offshore waves are directed away from the beach and have a short wave period (less than 6 seconds) then the wave height at a flat beach is likely to be smaller than the height of the waves offshore. Tides are the alternating rise and fall of the sea surface. They are due mainly to the gravitational attraction (pull) of the moon and sun on the rotating earth. Two high and two low tides occur daily around Britain and, with average weather conditions, their movements can be predicted with considerable accuracy. The Tidal Year is some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered.’ MARIANNE LEVY The pull of the moon's gravity is just enough to keep the earth in its monthly orbit, but it is a bit stronger on the surface of the earth facing the moon (near side) and weaker on the far side. This means that on the near side, the moon tends to pull anything that's free to move towards it. In the same way, on the far side, there isn't quite enough gravitational pull, so that anything that's free to move tends to fly off, away from the moon. So on the near side they are pulled into a bulge towards the moon, and on the far side, they pile up into a bulge away from the moon.Geography also affects the tidal range. Looking at tide tables for all of Britain, it's clear that the height of the tide varies around the country. For example the spring tidal range at Avonmouth is 12.2 m while at Lowestoft it's only 1.9 m. A moving and memorable book... Her writing is contained, clear and as powerful as the changing tides she swims in. She is a talent to watch.' RAFFAELLA BARKER Not all spring tides are the same size. Springs nearest the equinoxes (21 March and 21 September – when day and night are of equal length all over the world) are slightly bigger. The explanation for this is very complex and won't be given here.

Immersive and compelling. I read it in a single day! Everyone should take a plunge into this book.’ CATHY RENTZENBRINK As the positions of Earth, Sun and Moon change in relation to each other, gravitational forces acting upon the oceans vary and it is these differences that cause fluctuations in the height of the sea. These changes in water level are often strongest at the coastline. On a beach, tides can be seen as the water comes up the beach on an incoming tide (flooding tide) or moves down the beach on a receding tide (ebbing tide). Tide heights are shown in metres. Tide height is important because the sea can sometimes come further up the beach than normal at high tideand lower than normal at low tide. Onshore winds are when the wind blows from the sea in towards the land. When onshore winds are strong the waves are likely to be rough. There will not be much shelter from the wind.

Tides refer to the rise and fall of a body of water, most commonly seen in oceans. Tides are caused by the interaction between the Moon, Sun and Earth. In other live-electronic highlights, Aphex Twin triumphed at Coachella, giving his first performance at the festival in over a decade. A couple days prior, he’d returned to New York City for his first booking there since the 1990s, at the Brooklyn venue Avant Gardner. Sadly, 2019 also brought the shuttering of theRed Bull Music Academy,whose concerts, journalism, panels and other programming were a coup to electronic music and agreat many other genres. The amount that the tide rises (covering the beach) and falls (exposing the beach) changes every day. Large tides that create higher than average high tides, and lower than average low tides, are called ‘spring tides’. Spring tides can occur all year round and can be more dangerous as they lead to the tide coming in faster. Higher waves, longer periods and strong winds can lead to high surf and potentially dangerous sea conditions. Whatever your level of expertise, we recommend you get advice from a lifeguard and stay within your limits. Understanding the tide times What are tides?

Co-host Dolly Parton, in the midst of a late-career renaissance in 2019, joinedthe Highwomen at the CMAs, and had made history with the group a bit over three months prior, dropping in as a surprise guest during the quartet’s set at the 60th anniversary edition of the Newport Folk Festival. (“Jolene,” captured on cellphone cameras, was as close to a viral video as the Americana audience gets.) The Tidal Year is some of the best writing on wild swimming that I have encountered.' MARIANNE LEVY Four months after Homecoming debuted, Netflix began streaming Look Mom I Can Fly, an intimate account of Travis Scott’s ascent, directed by self-taught filmmaker-to-the-stars White Trash Tyler. All of which leads us to ask if a burgeoning age of game-changing Netflix-produced hip-hop and R&B docs is upon us. Be aware that some parts of the beach could be cut off by the tide. This does not only occur at high tide; you could also get cut off while the tide is coming in

OUTDOOR SWIMMER

This is the average number of seconds between the crest (top) of one wave and the crest of the next, 1-2 miles out to sea. Waves vary in frequency, so we use a standard measure known as ‘peak period’, which represents the time between the most powerful waves. The dual themes of the decade in country — that is, the mainstreaming of Americana and the overwhelming success of women artists — continued to progress in 2019. Bolstering the latter idea was Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy sweep, which included an Album of the Year win for her 2018 release, Golden Hour. Welcome to 19 for ’19: The TIDAL Year in Review — our guide to 2019’s most memorable sounds, stars and moments. This genre-spanning exercise moves chronologically through the year, using 19 notable dates and events as the jumping-off point for discussion of related music milestones. Of course we couldn’t include every single artist, song, album and happening that impressed us in 2019, but this calendar of sorts is a great place to begin reflecting on an outstanding year in music that often felt like one continuous highlight reel. To read the essays in our ongoing TIDAL 10 project, a diverse collection of writings that attempt to define the 2010s in music, visit TIDAL Read. For an extensive offering of best-of-year and best-of-decade playlists, as well as our recently launched year-end Now Playing initiative , sign up for TIDAL. – Ed. At some beaches, being aware of tide times and height is very important to avoid the risk of being stranded by the incoming tide.