What causes the tides to rise and fall?

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun on Earth’s oceans. The side of Earth facing the Moon experiences a bulge of water, creating a high tide. A second high tide occurs on the opposite side due to the Earth’s rotation and the centrifugal force generated by the Moon’s orbit. Low tides occur in areas between these bulges. The alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during full or new moons can create higher-than-average tides, known as spring tides.