what are tides

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun. These forces generate something called the tidal force, which causes the water in the oceans to bulge in the direction of the Moon, resulting in high tides. As the Earth rotates, different areas of the planet face the Moon, causing the tides to cycle around the planet. The gravitational pull of the Moon is strongest on the side of the Earth facing it, resulting in high tide, while the bulge on the far side of the Earth is caused by inertia, leading to another high tide. The regular rise and fall of the oceans waters are known as tides, and they are one of the most reliable phenomena in the world. Tides are very long waves that move across the oceans and can occur in other systems whenever a gravitational field that varies in time and space is present. Tides are not limited to the oceans and can also occur in lakes and rivers. Most tides are semidiurnal, which means they take place twice a day, and the difference in height between the high tide and the low tide is called the tidal range. Tides are important to monitor in order to protect our coasts and coastal communities.