The Moon has a major influence on Earth's tides because of its gravitational pull on the oceans. As the Moon orbits Earth, its gravitational effect contributes to the regular rise and fall of sea levels around the world's coastlines.
The Sun also affects the tides. When the Sun, Moon and Earth are positioned in particular ways, their combined gravitational effects can produce a larger tidal range. These tides are commonly known as spring tides and occur around the new moon and full moon.
When the Sun and Moon are positioned at approximately right angles relative to Earth, their effects partially counteract each other, producing a smaller tidal range known as a neap tide.
The exact effect of the Moon varies between locations because the shape of the coastline, seabed and other local geographical factors influence how tides behave.
