What is a spring tide?

A spring tide is characterized by the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth, which occurs during the new moon and full moon phases. When these three celestial bodies line up, their gravitational forces combine to create higher high tides and lower low tides than usual. This significant tidal range is due to the additive gravitational pull of the sun and the moon acting upon the Earth's oceans, resulting in the most extreme tidal conditions.

While some might think that a spring tide simply sounds like it relates to the spring season, that's a misconception. The term does not denote a particular time of year. The connection between the gravitational pull of the moon is relevant, but it is specifically how the sun's gravitational influence combines with the moon's during alignment that defines a spring tide. Furthermore, spring tides do not directly influence daily weather patterns, as they are solely related to the interplay of gravitational forces and the resulting changes in sea level.