What tidal condition occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned?

When the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned, a spring tide occurs. This alignment typically happens during the new moon and full moon phases when the gravitational forces of the sun and moon combine to produce higher and lower tidal ranges. During these times, the tides are at their most extreme, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides compared to other times in the lunar cycle.

In contrast, neap tides occur when the gravitational forces of the sun and moon are perpendicular to each other, leading to less pronounced tidal changes. Low and high tides are terms that describe the state of the tide at any given moment but do not signify the specific tidal phenomenon resulting from celestial alignments. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the positions of these celestial bodies is key to comprehending why spring tides represent the significant tidal event associated with their alignment.