What type of tides occur when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other?

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When the sun and moon are positioned at right angles to each other, they create a specific tidal effect known as neap tides. During neap tides, the gravitational forces exerted by the sun and moon counteract each other, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides. This phenomenon occurs during the first and third quarters of the moon when these celestial bodies align at 90-degree angles, significantly reducing the tidal range compared to spring tides, which occur when the sun and moon are aligned. Therefore, understanding this relationship is key to recognizing how lunar and solar positions affect tidal movements in the ocean.

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