The natural phenomenon on Earth primarily caused by the Moon’s gravity is tides. The Moon’s gravitational pull creates differential forces across Earth, producing bulges in the oceans and regular changes in sea level.
Earth’s side facing the Moon is pulled more strongly toward it, while the solid Earth and ocean on the opposite side experience a different gravitational effect. These differences create two broad tidal bulges, so many coastlines experience two high tides and two low tides during a lunar day, although local patterns vary.
The Sun also contributes to tides, but it is much farther away, making the Moon the dominant influence. When the Sun, Earth and Moon line up at new moon or full moon, their effects combine to produce stronger spring tides. At quarter moons, weaker neap tides occur.
Tides are often confused with eclipses, seasons or auroras. Eclipses require a special alignment, seasons mainly result from Earth’s axial tilt, and auroras are caused by charged particles interacting with the atmosphere.