A tide with the smallest range between high and low water, occurring when the moon is in its first or third quarter. During neap tides, the sun and moon's gravitational forces partially cancel each other out.
From Old English 'nep' meaning 'without the power of advancing.' The term reflects how these tides seem weak or 'nipped' compared to spring tides, as they barely advance up the beach.
Neap tides create perfect conditions for tide pool exploration because the water level stays more consistent! Many marine creatures time their reproductive cycles to these gentler tides, when their eggs won't be violently churned by extreme water movement.
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