What are spring tides and neap tides?
When the earth, moon and sun are in line (during new and full moon), the bulges of water caused by the moon and sun occur in the same place on the earth’s surface. The lunar tide and the solar tide are reinforcing each other – which leads to higher than average high tides, and lower than average low tides. These are called spring tides. When the earth, moon and sun form a right angle (at 90) the high water caused by the lunar tide coincides with the low water of the solar tide. This produces lower than average high waters and higher than average low waters which are called neap tides. They occur approximately 7 days after spring tides.
