Is there a link between the ocean's tides and the phases of the moon?

The relationship between the ocean's tides and the phases of the moon is a long-standing scientific inquiry. The gravitational pull of the moon is believed to be the primary force behind the ocean's tides, and the moon's orbit around the Earth is divided into eight distinct phases. As the moon moves from new to full, the gravitational pull of the moon on the Earth's oceans increases, creating higher tides known as spring tides. Conversely, when the moon is in its first and third quarters, its gravitational pull on the oceans is weaker and the resulting tides are lower, known as neap tides.

The relationship between the moon's phases and the ocean's tides has been known and studied for centuries. Ancient civilizations had a rudimentary understanding of the relationship, and were able to predict the tides based on the moon's position in the sky. Modern scientific studies have further confirmed the link between the moon's phases and the ocean's tides.

The moon's gravitational pull also affects bodies of water on land, such as rivers and lakes. However, the effect is not as pronounced as it is on the ocean, due to the smaller size of the bodies of water and the lesser mass of the moon compared to the Earth.