Watch two ocean tidal bulges stay lined up with the Moon while Earth spins underneath - toggle Spring, Normal, and Neap tide modes and watch a coastal marker pass through high and low tide.
The red marker is a coastal observer riding the spinning Earth. The pale-blue shell is the ocean bulge; it tracks the Moon's position rather than Earth's spin, so the marker crosses it twice per rotation.
Drag to orbit the view and scroll or pinch to zoom. Cycle the tide mode to compare Spring, Normal, and Neap amplitudes.
Tides: Earth-Moon 3D Explorer
Watch two ocean tidal bulges stay lined up with the Moon while Earth spins underneath - a red marker rides the surface and passes through high tide and low tide twice per rotation, the same pattern real coasts see about every 12 h 25 min.
Cycle Spring, Normal, and Neap tide modes to see the bulge grow and shrink. NOAA: the Sun's tide-generating force is about half the Moon's, so combined Sun+Moon pull runs from about 1.5x the Moon alone at Spring tide down to about 0.5x at Neap tide.
Click Earth, the Moon, or the Sun marker for a facts panel, or open the range table for real-world numbers from the Bay of Fundy to the open Atlantic.
- Two-bulge equilibrium-tide model tracking the Moon while Earth spins underneath
- Spring / Normal / Neap tide toggle with NOAA-derived amplitude ratios
- Coastal observer marker with live High tide / Low tide / Rising / Falling readout
- Real-world range table: global average, open Atlantic coast, Bay of Fundy
- Runs fully in the browser with the vendored three.js engine - no account, no upload
Physics and earth-science students see why every coast gets two highs and two lows per lunar day, sailors and coastal readers compare Spring vs Neap ranges before checking a real tide table, and curious visitors get a one-screen picture of why the Bay of Fundy is different from the open ocean.
| Location | Typical tidal range |
|---|---|
| Global ocean average | about 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Open Atlantic coastline | 4-8 ft (1.5-2.5 m) |
| Bay of Fundy, Minas Basin (world's highest) | up to 53 ft (16 m) |
Everything renders on your device with WebGL. The 3D engine loads once (about 0.7 MB) and is cached; no scene data is sent to a server.
The scene is an educational equilibrium-tide visualization - it does not model real coastlines, harbor resonance, currents, or storm surge, and the bulge shape is exaggerated for readability. The lunar-day length and the Sun/Moon force ratio are NOAA published figures; the Spring/Neap amplitude multipliers (1.5x and 0.5x) are arithmetic derived from NOAA's figure that the Sun's tide force is about half the Moon's, not independently measured numbers.
For a step-by-step walkthrough, read the Tides: Earth-Moon 3D Explorer step-by-step guide. The Space 3D collection also includes the Tidal Locking 3D Explorer for how the Moon's OWN rotation locked to Earth, and the Moon Phases 3D Explorer for lunar illumination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Tides: Earth-Moon 3D Explorer show?
Two ocean tidal bulges that stay lined up with the Moon while Earth's solid body spins underneath - a red marker rides the surface and passes through high tide and low tide twice per rotation.
Why are there two high tides and two low tides every day?
The near-side bulge is pulled directly toward the Moon and the far-side bulge forms because of inertia (NOAA). A coastal spot passes under both bulges as Earth spins, producing two highs and two lows about every 12 h 25 min - half of the 24 h 50 min lunar day.
What is the difference between Spring and Neap tides?
Spring tides happen when the Sun and Moon line up (new or full moon) and their pulls add together; Neap tides happen when they are at right angles and partly cancel. NOAA: the Sun's tide-generating force is about half the Moon's, so this page shows Spring at about 1.5x the Moon-alone bulge and Neap at about 0.5x.
How big are real tidal ranges?
NOAA: the global ocean average is about 3 ft (0.9 m). Open Atlantic coastlines typically see 4-8 ft (1.5-2.5 m). The Bay of Fundy's Minas Basin reaches up to 53 ft (16 m) - the highest tidal range in the world.
Is this different from the Tidal Locking 3D Explorer?
Yes. Tidal locking is about the Moon's OWN rotation being locked to Earth so one face always faces us. This page is about Earth's ocean tides caused by the Moon and Sun - a different phenomenon.
Is this a real hydrodynamic tide simulation?
No. It is an educational equilibrium-tide visualization with no coastlines, harbor resonance, or currents. The bulge shape is exaggerated for readability; the lunar-day length and the Sun/Moon force ratio are NOAA published figures.