The gravitational tug of war at right angles
During the quarter moon phases, the Sun pulls water away from the Moon's bulge. This creates neap tides, which feature the smallest difference between high and low tides, with heights reduced by about 20 percent.
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 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.
nic When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to Earth, their gravitational pulls partially cancel each other out.