Spring-Neap and Tides?

Question

What's a spring-neap? And what's it's relationship with Tides?

Answer 1

There's no such thing as a spring-neap.

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun. It's actually what's known as a "differential" force, because the tidal force results from the *difference* in the gravitational force on Earth by the Moon (or Sun) on the near side of Earth relative to the far side of Earth - the Moon pulls more strongly on the near side of Earth than it does the far side of Earth. This results in high tides on the side of Earth facing the Moon *and* the side of Earth facing away from the Moon. The same is true for the Sun, except the tides from the Sun are only half as strong as the tides from the Moon.

So, when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are lined up (New Moon or Full Moon), Earth experiences the highest high tides and the lowest low tides. These are known as "spring tides" from the German word "springen" (or something like that) which means to rise up - notice it has nothing to do with the season that comes after winter! I often hear the tv weather guy call these simply "astronomically high tides". It can be a problem at coastal areas especially if storms come in off the ocean during the time of spring tides - very high potential for flooding.

When the Sun, Earth, and Moon make a right-angle in space (First Quarter and Third/Last Quarter Moon), Earth experiences the lowest high tides and the highest low tides. These are known as "neap tides". I don't know where the word "neap" comes from.

Answer 2

Spring tides ensue whilst the tidal forces simply by solar make stronger that of the moon.this might ensue purely on an entire moon day or a clean moon day whilst the solar,the earth and the moon are in a straight away line.So this can't take place on a daily basis because it a fortnightly cycle. further, the neap tide happens whilst the tidal forces simply by solar partly cancels that of the moon.this might take place purely whilst the solar and the moon are separated by technique of ninety ranges as considered from the earth which coincides with the 1st or final(third) quarter.it is lower back a fortnightly cycle and can't take place wide-spread.