How do Tides form?

Tides are the regular daily raise and fall of ocean waters. Twice each day in most locations, water rises up over the shore until it reaches its highest level, or high tide. In between, the water recedes from the shore until it reaches it lowest level, or low tide.

Tides respond to the gravitational pull of moon and sun. Gravitational pull has little effect on the solid and inflexible land, but the fluid oceans reacts strongly. Because the moon is closer, its pull is greater, making it the dominant force in tide formation.

Gravitational force is greatest on the side of earth facing the moon and weakest on the side opposite. Nonetheless, the differences in these forces, in combination with Earth's rotation and other factors, allow the oceans to bulge outward on each side, creating high tides. The sides of Earth that are not in alignment with the moon experience low tides at this time.

Tides follow different patterns depending on the shape of the sea coast and the ocean floor. They tend to roll in gently on wide, open beaches. In confined spaces, such as a narrow inlet or bay, the water may rise to very high levels at high tide