what are spring tides and how do they occur?
Spring tides are are very high tides which occur when the sun, moon, and earth form a straight line.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, thanks :-)
See if that article I gave you for the second of these three posts addresses that question, too.
You're almost correct! Spring tides are indeed very high tides, but they occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned in a straight line. This alignment creates a combined gravitational force that pulls the ocean's water more strongly, causing higher-than-average tides.
To explain further, the moon's gravitational force is the primary factor influencing tides. When the moon is either full or new, it lines up with the sun and Earth during specific positions in its orbit. During these times, the gravitational forces of the sun and moon combine, resulting in stronger gravitational pull on the ocean's water.
This alignment causes two high tides and two low tides each day. The high tides are higher than average, known as spring tides, while the low tides are lower than average. It's important to note that spring tides have nothing to do with the season of spring; the term "spring tide" comes from the idea of the tide "springing forth" or rising higher.
On the other hand, during the first and third quarter moon phases, the moon, sun, and Earth form a right angle, resulting in weaker gravitational pull. This leads to a moderate difference between high and low tides, known as neap tides.
In conclusion, spring tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned, creating stronger gravitational forces and higher-than-average tides.