maree

Maree is a term most closely associated with the tidal phenomenon—the regular rise and fall of sea level relative to coastlines. This oscillation is driven primarily by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun acting on the Earth's oceans. In French, the term is marée, meaning tide; in English, the non-accented form maree is uncommon and typically appears only in loanwords or as part of proper names.

Tides vary in their timing and height depending on latitude, coastline geometry, water depth, and ocean floor features. Most regions experience semidiurnal tides, with two high tides and two low tides each day, while some areas experience diurnal tides, with a single high tide per day. The magnitude of the tide, or tidal range, is influenced by local conditions and by lunar phases, producing phenomena known as spring tides (larger range) and neap tides (smaller range).

Maree has broad implications for navigation, port operations, and coastal engineering, as well as for coastal ecosystems that rely on tidal flows. It also underpins tidal energy potential and is a factor in climate-related changes to sea levels and coastal flooding. While the core concept is universal, its expression and name vary by language and local usage.

See also: Tide, Tidal range, Spring tide, Neap tide, Coastal engineering.