Because the moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth, the distance between them varies by about 31,000 miles over the course of a month. Just as the angles of the sun, moon and Earth affect tidal heights over the course of a lunar month, so do their distances to one another. During each lunar month, two sets of spring and two sets of neap tides occur. One week later, when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, the solar tide partially cancels out the lunar tide and produces moderate tides known as neap tides. When the sun, moon, and Earth are in alignment (at the time of the new or full moon), the solar tide has an additive effect on the lunar tide, creating extra-high high tides, and very low, low tides - both commonly called spring tides. Together, the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun affect the Earth’s tides on a monthly basis.
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