Tides

Tides, and the pull of the moon and sun
The sun and moon, the shape of a beach and larger coastline, the angle of a
seabed leading up to land, and the prevailing ocean currents and winds all
affect the height of the tides.
We all know the moon is primarily responsible for the rising and falling of ocean tides. In most places,
but not everywhere, there are two high tides and two low tides a day. For any particular spot on Earth’s
surface, the height of the tides and their fluctuation in time depends not only on the moon, but also on
the sun – and also on the shape of the specific beach, the larger coastline, the angle of the seabed
leading up to land, and the prevailing ocean currents and winds.
The difference in height between high and low waters varies as the moon waxes and wanes from new to
full and back to new again. The higher tides are called spring tides (nothing to do with season of spring).
The lower tides are called neap tides. Click the links below to learn more about the tides.
What are spring tides? Around each new moon and full moon, the sun, Earth, and moon arrange
themselves more or less along a line in space. Then the pull on the tides increases, because the gravity of
the sun reinforces the moon’s gravity. In fact, the height of the average solar tide is about 50% the
average lunar tide. Thus, at new moon or full moon, the tide’s range is at its maximum. This is the spring
tide: the highest (and lowest) tide. Spring tides are not named for the season. This is spring in the sense
of jump, burst forth, rise. So spring tides bring the most extreme high and low tides every month, and
they happen around full and new moon.
It’s when a spring tide coincides with a time of heavy winds and rain – flooding due to a weather
extreme – that the most extreme flooding occurs.
Around each new moon and full moon – when the sun, Earth, and moon are located more or less on a
line in space – the range between high and low tides is greatest. These are called spring tides. Image via
physicalgeography.net
Around each first quarter moon and last quarter moon – when the sun and moon are at a right angle to
Earth – the range between high and low tides is least. These are called neap tides. Image via
physicalgeography.net
What are neap tides? These sorts of tides occur halfway between each new and full moon
– at the first quarter and last quarter moon phase – when the sun and moon are at right
angles as seen from Earth. Then the sun’s gravity is working against the gravity of the
moon, as the moon pulls on the sea. This is the neap tide: the tide’s range is at its minimum.
Neap tides happen approximately twice a month, once around first quarter moon and once
around last quarter moon. There’s about a seven-day interval between spring tides and neap
tides.
Earth has two tidal bulges, one of the side of Earth nearest the moon (where the moon’s gravity pulls hardest), and the
other on the side of Earth farthest from the moon (where the moon’s gravity pulls least).
Why are there two high tides and two low tides each day? If the moon is primarily
responsible for the tides, why are there two high tides and two low tides each day in most
places, for example, the U.S. eastern seaboard? It seems as if there should just be one. If
you picture the part of Earth closest to the moon, it’s easy to see that the ocean is drawn
toward the moon. That’s because gravity depends in part on how close two objects are. But
then why – on the opposite side of Earth – is there another tidal bulge, in the direction
opposite the moon? It seems counterintuitive, until you realize that this second bulge
happens at the part of Earth where the moon’s gravity is pulling the least.
Looking for a tide almanac? EarthSky recommends …
Earth spins once every 24 hours. So a given location on Earth will pass “through” both
bulges of water each day. Of course, the bulges don’t stay fixed in time. They move at the
slow rate of about 13.1 degrees per day – the same rate as the monthly motion of the moon
relative to the stars. Other factors, including the shape of coastlines, etc., also influence the
time of the tides, which is why people who live near coastlines like to have a good tide
almanac.

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Tides, and the pull of the moon and sun

Looking for a tide almanac? EarthSky recommends …

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