Tides are caused primarily by the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun on the Earth's oceans. The Moon's gravity pulls water toward it, creating a bulge or high tide in the ocean. On the opposite side of the Earth, another bulge occurs due to the centrifugal force created by the Earth-Moon system's rotation, resulting in a second high tide. As the Earth rotates, different areas experience these high and low tides.
It is important for humans to monitor tides because they significantly impact coastal activities, such as fishing, boating, and beach management. Accurate tidal predictions help ensure safety and efficiency in these activities.
Difference between Neap tide and Spring tide:
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Spring Tides occur during the full moon and new moon phases when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned. This alignment results in the greatest difference between high and low tides, leading to very strong tidal effects.
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Neap Tides happen during the first and third quarters of the moon when the Earth, Moon, and Sun form a right angle. This positioning causes the gravitational forces to partially cancel each other out, resulting in less extreme tidal variations, or smaller differences between high and low tides.