What Causes Tides?

Gravity is one major force that creates tides. In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton explained that
ocean tides result from the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon on the oceans
of the earth (Sumich, J.L., 1996).
Tidal forces are based on the gravitational attractive force. With regard to tidal forces
on the Earth, the distance between two objects usually
is more critical than their masses. Tidal generating
forces vary inversely as the cube of the distance from the tide generating object.
Gravitational attractive forces only vary inversely to the square of the distance between
the objects (Thurman, H.V., 1994). The effect of distance on tidal forces is seen in the
relationship between the sun, the moon, and the Earths waters.

High tide is when the moon pulls the water up further onto the beach creating less sand space.
Low tide is when the moon pulls the sea out further creating more sand space.

What causes the seasons?

The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis away or toward the sun as it travels through
its year-long path around the sun.
The Earth has a tilt of 23.5 degrees relative to the "ecliptic plane" (the imaginary surface formed by it's
almost-cicular path around the sun). The tilt toward the sun is maximized during Northern Hemisphere
summer in late June (the "summer solstice"). At this time, the amount of sunlight reaching the Northern
Hemisphere is at a maximum.

In the spring, seeds take root and vegetation begins to grow. The weather is
warmer, and often wetter. Animals wake or return from warmer climates, often with
newborns. Melting snow from the previous season, along with increased rainfall, can
cause flooding along waterways. [Related: 6 Signs Spring Has Sprung]
In the summer, temperatures may increase to their hottest of the year. If they spike too
high, heat waves or droughts may cause trouble for people, animals, and plants.
Rainfall may increase in some areas. Others may receive less water, and forest fires
may become more frequent. [Gallery: Stunning Summer Solstice Photos]
In the autumn, or fall, temperatures cool again. Plants may begin to grow dormant.
Animals might prepare themselves for the upcoming cold weather, storing food or

traveling to warmer regions. Various cultures have celebrated bountiful harvests with
annual festivals. [Gallery: A Rainbow of Fall Leaves]
Winter often brings a chill. Some areas may experience snow or ice, while others see
only cold rain. Animals find ways to warm themselves, and may have changed their
appearance to adapt. [Gallery: Images of Stunning Snowy Landscapes]
Location, location, location
The timing and characteristics of the seasons depends upon the location on Earth.
Regions near the equator experience fairly constanttemperatures throughout the year,
with balmy winters barely discernable from warm summers.
But for areas to the north and south, the seasons can change more significantly. People
closer to the poles might experience icier, more frigid winters, while those closer to the
equator might suffer hotter summers. Other factors can also affect the weather and
temperature over the seasons; some areas experience dry summers as temperatures
spike, while others might call summer their "wet season," experiencing higher than
average rainfall. Mountainous regions might experience more snowfall than plains within
the same latitude, while oceanfront property could see an increase in violent tropical
storms as the weather shifts.
The time of year a region experiences a season depends on whether it is in the northern
or southern hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere experiences winter while its
northern neighbors chart summer; the north sees the slow blossom of spring while the
south brings in the autumn harvest.