Tides & Lunar-Solar Alignment

Essential vocabulary covering how lunar-solar positions affect tidal heights.

Syzygy

An alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth along the same straight line.

Spring Tide

A tide of greater-than-average range occurring during syzygy when the Sun and Moon’s gravitational forces combine.

Neap Tide

A tide of lower-than-average range occurring when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to Earth, partially canceling each other’s pull.

King Tide

An especially high spring tide that can cause coastal flooding; produced when Earth, Moon, and Sun are in near-perfect alignment.

Gravitational Influence of the Sun

Although farther away, the Sun accounts for roughly 46 % of the total gravitational force that produces tides.

Lunar Gravitational Pull

The primary driver of Earth’s tides because the Moon is much closer to Earth than the Sun.