The Moon is the main driver
Tides are primarily shaped by the Moon’s gravity. As the Moon moves around Earth, the strength and direction of that pull shift, creating the rising and falling water levels we call tides.
How this connects to your keepsake
SeasTheMemory uses NOAA-backed station data to anchor each design to a real shoreline and time window. That means the contour is shaped by actual conditions tied to the selected place and dates.
Sun alignment changes the range
Near new and full moons, the Sun and Moon reinforce each other more strongly, often creating larger tidal swings. Quarter moons often produce smaller swings.
Place still matters
Bays, inlets, shoreline geometry, and local bathymetry all affect how tides show up at a specific station. That’s part of why one beach can tell a different visual story from another.
So your result is not generic
The final form is tied to a real location and time window. That’s the difference between decorative ocean style and a real memory anchored to data.