Approximately how often does high tide occur?

High tide occurs approximately every 12 hours due to the gravitational influence of the moon and the sun on the Earth's oceans. As the Earth rotates, different areas of the coastline experience the changing positions of the tides, resulting in high tides and low tides. This cycle is primarily influenced by the lunar cycle, where the gravitational pull of the moon causes water to bulge out, creating high tides on the side of the Earth facing the moon and on the opposite side.

This semi-diurnal tide pattern means that most coastal locations experience two high tides and two low tides within a typical 24-hour period, roughly 12 hours apart. Therefore, saying that high tide occurs every 12 hours reflects the natural rhythm of the tides, aligning with the regular gravitational influences.