What primarily causes oceanic tides?

The primary cause of oceanic tides is the gravitational attraction of the moon. As the moon orbits the Earth, its gravitational force pulls on different parts of the Earth's oceans, creating bulges of water, which we perceive as high tides. When the part of the Earth facing the moon experiences this pull, it causes water to rise, while on the opposite side, a second bulge forms due to the centrifugal force created by the Earth-moon system's rotation.

While the sun's gravitational pull also affects tides, its impact is less significant than that of the moon, due to the sun's much greater distance from Earth. The Earth's rotation contributes to the timing of tides but does not directly cause them. Wind patterns can influence ocean surface currents and can affect local tidal conditions, but they are not the primary driver of tidal movements. Therefore, the gravitational attraction of the moon is the most significant factor in the formation of oceanic tides.