🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec14.153154.22191@newsgate.sps.mot.com>, markm@bigfoot.sps.mot.com (Mark Monninger) writes:
> 
> Over the weekend, I heard a network news commentator say that high winds  
> and a full moon caused (or made worse) the higher-than-usual tide that  
> caused so much damage along the northeast coast. What does a full moon  
> have to do with it? I find it hard to believe that a full moon has any  
> effect on the tides. The mass of the moon, and hence its gravitational  
> pull on the ocean doesn't change, nor does its distance from the earth (at  
> least not because the moon is full). The only thing that really changes is  
> that we on earth can see more of the moon. Is this an urban legend or  
> what?


I never know whether questions in this group are legit or not.  Feh.  On
the assumption that this one is...

The moon is (mostly) what causes high tides.  Picture the following... as
the moon sweeps around the earth, its gravitational pull tugs at the earth.
When over water, a swell develops where the pull is strongest (i.e. the
water is being "pulled" toward the moon).  High tide is the swell approaching
shore.


> 
> Mark

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