How are tides formed in the sea ?
Tides are the consistent rise and fall of the sea’s level caused by the Sun’s and Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth. Our oceans respond to this pull much more than the solid earth. The Moon has a stronger effect on our tides since it is four hundred times closer to the Earth than the Sun. When the Sun and Moon are aligned with each other and the Earth, the Sun’s gravity will pull on our ocean in the same direction that the Moon is pulling it, creating the highest, high tide and the lowest, low tide of the month. These are called ‘Spring Tides’, not named for the season, but to illustrate a leaping motion instead. When the Sun and Moon form a 90° angle in relation to the Earth, ‘Neap Tides’ are formed. Half of the tidal bulge faces the Moon and the other faces the Sun. Remember, since the moon is closer to Earth than the Sun, the bulge will be larger on the side closest to the Moon. These produce the highest low tides and the lowest high tides.
