A King Tide is the naturally occurring extreme high tide, which happens once or twice a year due to the alignment of both the sun and moon’s gravitational pull. During this time, there can be flooding not usually seen during daily high tides. As sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, this unusual flooding brought during the King Tide will become common as tides continue to rise and fall under an elevated sea level. Although not caused by sea level rise, the height of a King Tide gives us an idea of what the average high tide level might be in 20-30 years.
The Long Island Sound Study is participating in the King Tide campaign in an effort to help communities and individuals visualize the impacts of sea level rise. And we need your help!
Here’s how you can “Capture the King Tide”:
Of course, feel free to contact Larissa at 631-632-9216 or LJG85@cornell.edu if you have any questions!
For more information on tide predictions, visit NOAA’s tides and currents website. To learn more about the King Tide visit the Washington State Department of Ecology’s climate change website.