The name of the water movement caused by the gravitational pull of the moon is called tides. Tides are the periodic rise and fall of sea levels, influenced primarily by the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun. High tides occur when water is drawn toward the moon, while low tides occur on the opposite side of the Earth. The rotation of the Earth and the position of the moon relative to it result in the cyclical pattern of tides. Typically, most coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides each day, with their timing and height varying based on the lunar cycle.