| has gloss | eng: The tidal range is the vertical difference between the high tide and the succeeding low tide. It is the difference in height between high and low water and will vary throughout the tidal cycle. The most extreme tidal range will occur around the time of the full or new moons, when gravitational forces of both the Sun and Moon are in phase and acting in the the same direction (new moon), or exactly opposite way (full). This type of tide is known as a spring tide. During neap tides, when the Moon and Suns gravitational force vectors act in quadrature (making a right angle to the Earths orbit), the difference between high and low tides is smaller. Neap tides occur during the first and last quarters of the moon's phases. The largest annual tidal range can be expected around the time of the Equinox, if coincidental with a spring tide. |
