A Cardigan man hopes to help others understand the sea with his new book, A Question of Tides.

Dave Haskell’s book could be a revelation to many coastal folk who are not fully conversant with how the tides are raised, and may also prove eye-opening to many students and indeed teachers who think they can fully explain the forces behind the ocean tides, especially the second tidal bulge on the side of the earth furthest from the moon.

The author claims most people are aware (or should be) that the ocean tides are the result of the gravitational influence of the moon, with more knowledgeable folk realising that the tides are the consequence of both the moon and the sun.

“Spring tides occur around the time of a new and full moon,” said Dave, “that is, when the sun, moon and earth are in direct alignment. Spring tides result in higher-than-average high tides and lower-than-average low tides.

“A consequence of the elliptical nature of the orbits of the earth and the moon is that the distances between the sun, earth and moon vary.

“This means that all spring tides are not equally high. Indeed, the distance between the earth and the moon varies by about 10 per cent, which results in a 30 per cent difference in the moon’s effect in raising tides.”

He goes on to say that “neap tides are when the sun and moon’s tidal pull are virtually at right angles during the first and last quarter of the moon. As such, the ocean tides have their lowest amplitude.

“Therefore, the high tides are lower than average, and the low tides are not as low as the average low tides.”

See this week’s south papers for the full feature, available in shops and as a digital edition now