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Gravity
Gravity is one of the major factors that creates tides in oceans. In 1687, Sir Issac Newton created the law of universal gravitation, which scientists still accept to this day. The law explains that tides result from the gravitational attraction of both the sun and moon on the oceans of the earth. The moon and the sun's gravitational forces are created due to their mass. Therefore, the relationship between the masses of the sun and moon, as well as their distance from the earth affects the tide.
Spring Tide
A spring tide is a strong tide -- with no relation to the season spring -- that occurs in oceans. Spring tides occur only when the earth, sun and moon are aligned in a straight line. The gravitational pull of both the sun and the moon are combined in effect on the oceans. At these times, high tides are towering, while low tides are minute. The moon could either be in front or behind the earth, as long as it remains in line with the sun. Spring tides occur only during the full moon and the new moon.
Neap Tides
A neap tide is a weaker tide that occurs during quarter moons. A quarter moon occurs when the moon is perpendicular with the sun. The sun and the moon operate at right angles, and their gravitational forces cancel each other out. An ocean's neap tide during quarter moons is smaller than a spring tide during full or new moons. A slight difference exists between high and low neap tides.
Proxigean Spring Tide
The proxigean spring tide is an unusually high tide that occurs once every 18 months. For proxigean spring tides to occur, the moon must be at its closest position to the earth, called the proxigee. Additionally, the moon must be aligned to the sun in its new moon phase. Maximum tides are achieved during a proxigean spring tide. During this phase, tides commonly cause flooding because of their enormous size.