| Our coast experiences
two tide cycles daily--two high tides and two low tides--caused by
the moon's gravitational pull and centrifugal force. The
difference between high and low tides varies during the month. Spring
tides are caused when the earth, sun and moon are in
alignment, increasing the gravitational pull on the ocean which in
turn causes higher than normal tides. Between spring tides are neap
tides, when there is less gravitational pull on the
ocean.
The coastal South Carolina-Georgia
border has the greatest tidal differences south of the Bay of
Fundy. In our area, the difference between low and high tide is
over eight feet (and up to 10 feet during spring tides). This
significant difference between low and high tides is caused by our
high tides forcing a greater amount of water into a relatively
small area, as opposed to what would happen if the coastline were
straight. By comparison, here are tide differences in other areas:
1.5 feet
at Cape Hatteras, NC
5.0 feet in Charleston, SC
2.5 feet in Jacksonville, FL
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