Which tides result in minimal variation in tidal height?

Neap tides occur when the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun are perpendicular to each other in relation to the Earth. This alignment happens during the first and third quarters of the moon, resulting in lower differences between high and low tides. During neap tides, the tidal range is minimized, meaning that the height variation of the tides is less pronounced compared to other times.

In contrast, other tidal phenomena exhibit greater variations. High tides represent the peak height of water, and low tides signify the minimum height. Spring tides, occurring during full and new moons, produce the largest tidal ranges due to the combined gravitational pull of the sun and moon when they are aligned. Therefore, the unique positioning of the sun and moon during neap tides is what causes the observed minimal variation in tidal height.