Spring Tides

Spring Tides

When the Sun, Moon, and Earth align in a straight line during a new or full moon, their combined gravitational pull creates extra-high 'spring tides' that cause the oceans to swell dramatically.

Why the ocean has tides

Chapter 1

The cosmic tug of war

Chapter 2

The Sun enters the dance

Chapter 3

Coastal shapes and local rhythms

Chapter 4

Tides and the web of life

Ch 2 · The Sun enters the dance

nic The Sun's surprisingly weak tidal power

nic The gravitational tug of war at right angles

Wave Waltz or Tidal Dance-Off or The Ocean

BETA

nic Drag the Moon into orbit to discover how gravity pulls the ocean's daily tides.

nic When gravity joins forces during alignments

nic How extreme king tides are created

nic Spring Tides

Sun and Moon / pull as one / oceans rise!

The Sun's surprisingly weak tidal power

nic Despite its immense mass, the Sun's extreme distance makes its tidal force less than half that of the Moon.

Fun Fact

Leaping tides: The word 'spring' in spring tides comes from an Old English word meaning 'to leap,' not the season.

The gravitational tug of war at right angles

nic When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to Earth, their gravitational pulls partially cancel each other out.

Quiz

What is the scientific term for the Moon's closest orbital point to Earth?

Gossip

Which tide name sounds cooler to you?

Quiz

About how strong is the Sun's tidal pulling force compared to the Moon's?

Quiz

What does the word 'spring' in spring tide actually refer to?

Quiz

What is a 'king tide' officially called by oceanographers?

Quiz

How often do neap tides occur during a single lunar month?

Quiz

What happens to the difference between high and low tide during a neap tide?

Quiz

What are the weaker tides called that occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles?

Quiz

During which moon phases do the highest high tides, known as spring tides, occur?