tidal friction

tidal friction

Energy dissipated by the raising of tides. As with tidal heights, the total energy dissipated on the Earth by tidal friction depends on the topography of coastlines and on the areal extent of adjacent continental shelves. Tidal friction is currently slowing down the Earth's rotation rate (i.e. the length of the day) by 16 seconds every million years and is causing the Moon to recede from the Earth by about 3.7 meters per century at present. See also secular acceleration.

tidal friction

[′tīd·əl ′frik·shən] (oceanography) The frictional effect of the tidal wave particularly in shallow waters that lengthens the tidal epoch and tends to slow the rotational velocity of the earth, thus increasing very slowly the length of the day.