grande marée, marée de vive eau, vives eaux spring tide

Creator:	Sheila Hardie
Language pair:	French to English
Discipline:	-
Definition / notes:	"Spring" and "Neap" Tides The overall effect of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth’s tides varies during the month. The greatest effect on the Earth’s tides results when the Moon and the Sun reinforce each other’s gravitational pull; when they are in a line with each other on either the same side of the earth, or on opposite sides (creating a tidal bulge), their gravitational pull is strongest. It is at this time that the tidal range is the greatest. This is called a "spring" tide from the German word "springen" which means "to jump". When the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other, their combined gravitation is the weakest, and the tidal range is the least. This is known as a "neap" tide
URL:	http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/high/alameda/clubs/scuba/crttdsandwvs.htm