🌊 TIDES: THE MOON'S PULL
PAGE 1 OF 5, THE MOON TUGS THE OCEAN
BULGE
GRAVITY STRETCHES THE WATER BLANKET
The Moon's mass pulls Earth toward it, including rock and ocean. Because water flows, the sea piles into tidal bulges: one roughly under the Moon and another on the opposite side from inertia as Earth and Moon swing around their common centre of mass. Our planet spins inside that pattern, so most coastlines see the water level rise and fall roughly twice per lunar day, the heartbeat of tides.
⚡ DID YOU KNOW?
The Sun also raises tides, about half the strength of lunar tides, so spring and neap cycles follow the lunar month plus Sun geometry.
TUG!
SPIN
🌍 Earth rotates inside bulges
🕐 ~12 h 25 min between highs (often)
🕐 ~12 h 25 min between highs (often)
SUN
☀️ Adds a solar tide signal
🌑 Alignments boost or cancel a bit
🌑 Alignments boost or cancel a bit