Which tides represent a time of greatest variation between high and low tides?

Spring tides occur during both the new moon and full moon phases, resulting in the greatest variation between high and low tides. This phenomenon is caused by the alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun. During these periods, the gravitational forces of the moon and sun combine to exert a stronger pull on the Earth's oceans, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides. The significant difference between the peak and trough of the tide cycle is what characterizes spring tides.

In contrast, during neap tides, which occur when the moon is in its first and third quarters, the gravitational forces of the moon and sun partially counteract each other. This results in lower high tides and higher low tides, leading to minimal variation between high and low tide levels. High and low tides themselves refer to the individual extremes of the tidal cycle but do not encompass the differences in variation that spring tides represent.