Changing of Tides?

Question

Why do the tides get higher and lower than the normal high and low tides. I know moon phases has alot to do with it but currently the tides are alot higher than they were with the full moon.

Answer 1

There are a number of things that have an effect on the tides. In order of importance:

The moon. The moon causes two high-tides a day, a higher one on the side facing the moon, and a lower high-tide on the side opposite the moon. This provides the most variation.

The sun. The sun also pulls on the oceans, but nowhere near enough to cause much of a high or low tide by itself. What it can do instead is accentuate or mute the moon's tides. So when the moon is on the same side of the earth as the sun (that would be a new moon) the high tides will be higher, and when the moon is perpendicular to the sun (half-moons) the high tides will be lower.

There is a further effect caused by the position of the two bodies. Neither orbit is perfectly circular, so at one point in the moon's orbit it is about 10% closer, and at one point during Earth's year the sun is about 5% closer than other points. These times would have slightly higher tides than usual, but you'd probably need to have been measuring the tides all year long to notice the effect.

Hope that helps! Happy tidings!

Answer 2

That is because the sun and moon are closer to the earth than last time you checked the tides, causing water levels to rise more than they usually do.

Answer 3

Wind has something to do with it as well. If you are on the Eastern seaboard, there's a hurricane out there pushing water toward the US coast.