Because of declination, the tidal bulges are not at the Equator but rather in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Actual tides in ocean basins and coastal areas. Observed tides are more complex than predicted by the Equilibrium Theory. Tidal periods and ranges do not exactly follow this simple model. The general explanation is that any given ocean basin and coastal area responds differently to the tide-generating foces.
Continents are barriers to the passage of tidal bulges.
The direction and speed of tidal waves are altered by friction with the sea floor reflection from continents and continental margins refraction as they move into shallow, coastal waters Tides are subject to the Coriolis effect because of the long distances and long durations of tidal motions. Because of Coriolis deflection, tides in some basins tend to rotate around a central node just like a standing wave. Tidal prediction . Sailors have tranditionally time their exit from a port for the falling tide, and their entry to a rising tide.