Which type of tides occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned?

The correct answer is spring tides. Spring tides occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned, which can happen during both the full moon and the new moon phases. This alignment results in the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon combining to produce higher high tides and lower low tides than normal. The combined gravitational pull leads to more extreme tidal variations, making spring tides significantly more pronounced.

In contrast, regular tides refer to the general pattern of tide rises and falls that occur due to the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun. Neap tides, on the other hand, occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles relative to the Earth, during the first and third quarters of the lunar cycle, leading to less extreme tides. Partial tides is not a recognized term in the context of tidal patterns, making it irrelevant in this scenario.