a tide is the periodic rising and falling of earth's ocean surface caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the moon acting on the oceans. tides cause changes in the depth of marine and estuarine (river mouth) waters. tides also make oscillating currents known as tidal streams (~'rip tides'). this means that being able to predict the tide is important for coastal navigation. the strip of seashore that is under water at high tide and exposed at low tide, called the intertidal zone, is an important ecological product of ocean tides.