What term describes the regular rise and fall of the ocean's surface influenced by the moon's gravity?

The term that describes the regular rise and fall of the ocean's surface influenced by the moon's gravity is tides. Tides occur due to the gravitational pull of the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun on Earth's oceans. This gravitational pull creates bulges in the water, resulting in the cyclic movement of sea levels. As the Earth rotates, different areas experience the rise and fall, leading to high tides and low tides at regular intervals throughout the day.

Understanding tides is essential for various ecological and navigational purposes, as they impact everything from marine life behavior to shipping routes and coastal activities. The significance of tides in relation to the gravitational forces exerted by celestial bodies distinguishes them from other ocean phenomena like currents, which are primarily influenced by wind, the Earth's rotation, and water temperature and salinity. Similarly, waves are caused by wind acting on the surface of water, and floods are rapid and often catastrophic inundations typically caused by weather events or natural disasters, not the gradual, predictable changes of tides.