When can you expect to see 'spring' tides?

'Spring' tides occur when the sun and the moon are aligned, combining their gravitational forces. This alignment happens during the full moon and new moon phases. When the sun and the moon are positioned in this way, their gravitational pull on the Earth's oceans works together, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides, which is a characteristic of spring tides. The term 'spring' does not refer to the season but rather to the idea of water "springing" higher than normal due to this alignment.

The other options describe different tidal conditions. For instance, when the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the Earth, they exert opposing forces which typically leads to lower tidal ranges known as 'neap' tides. Similarly, when they are at right angles to each other, the gravitational forces also partially cancel out, leading to moderate tidal heights. While 'during the spring' might suggest a connection to spring tides, it is not the correct criteria that define their occurrence in terms of astronomical positioning.