What phenomenon describes the cyclic rise and fall of seawater caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun?

The phenomenon that describes the cyclic rise and fall of seawater due to the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun is known as a tide. Tides occur in regular intervals, influenced by the positions of these celestial bodies, leading to predictable changes in sea levels along coastlines.

During high tide, water levels rise significantly, covering more of the shoreline, while during low tide, water retracts, exposing more land. The gravitational influence of the moon is stronger than that of the sun because the moon is much closer to Earth, but both celestial bodies contribute to the overall tidal patterns.

In contrast, the other terms mentioned relate to coastal features or processes but do not describe the regular movement of seawater. For instance, a wave cut notch is a feature created by wave action eroding the base of a cliff, a beach is a landform along the shoreline made up of sediment, and a spit is a depositional feature formed as sediment is accumulated along a coastline. These concepts represent different aspects of coastal geography and processes but do not encompass the cyclical nature of tides.