What are the tides called when the Moon is not aligned with the Sun, resulting in less extreme tides?

When the Moon is not aligned with the Sun, the gravitational pull exerted by the Sun and the Moon on Earth's oceans results in less extreme tidal changes. These milder tides occur during specific phases of the lunar cycle, particularly when the Moon is in its first or third quarter. This phenomenon is referred to as neap tides. During neap tides, the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun counteract each other, leading to lower high tides and higher low tides compared to the more intense spring tides, which occur when the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun are in alignment. Understanding this relationship helps explain how celestial mechanics influence ocean tides.