COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - While spending time at the beach, you've probably heard the phrase high tide or low tide, and how those change with time each day.
Even though the change in tides takes time, they're impressive in some places and barely noticeable in others. To find the main influence on tides, we look nearly 239,000 miles away at the Moon!
The gravitational pull of the Moon quite literally pulls Earth's water in its direction. This pull of water results in high tide, but it doesn't necessarily mean the opposite side of the Earth is then at low tide.
There are differences in gravity all over Earth's surface, which result in an overall tidal force. That's why there are two high and low tides per day as Earth makes one rotation. Whichever side is closest to the Moon will still be the highest tide.
While the main influence on our tidal sequence is the Moon, the Sun can be just as big of a factor.
A new or full moon means the Sun, Moon and Earth are lined up to reinforce each other. Those are called spring tides! A tidal cycle doesn't match with our daily lives, as these take 24 hours and 50 minutes.
The shape of everything from the coastline to the seafloor can influence how extreme or small a tide can be.
The Caribbean Sea has one of the lowest tidal differences, just a few inches between high and low tide. Meanwhile, the V-shaped Bay of Fundy between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia has a tidal difference of 53 feet during a full moon phase!
Around the Carolinas, we have King Tides each year. These tides are seasonal and exceptionally high, occurring whenever the Moon is closer to the Earth. For these to happen, the Moon's phase must be New or Full.
None of this takes into consideration wind and weather patterns across the Earth. While these have a small-scale impact, the Moon and Sun can have big effects worldwide.