OLYMPIA — Washington’s higher-than-usual winter tides are underway, and the state Department of Ecology is inviting the public to share their photos of this naturally occurring event.
These higher-than-usual tides are sometimes called “king tides” and occur when the sun’s and moon’s gravitational pulls reinforce one another.
King tides offer a glimpse of how rising sea levels from global climate change could affect the state’s coastal areas, organizers said.
In the coastal regions, king tide dates vary slightly depending on location:
■ In the Strait of Juan de Fuca, they will occur today and Tuesday (Dec. 30-31), Jan. 1-2 and Jan. 30-31.
■ Along Washington’s outer coast, king tides will occur today and Tuesday (Dec. 30-31), Jan. 1-2, Jan. 5-8 and Jan. 29-30.
■ Puget Sound dates are today and Tuesday (Dec. 30-31) and Jan. 4-8.
Pictures should be taken where the high water levels can be gauged against familiar landmarks such as seawalls, jetties, bridge supports or buildings.
Note the date, time and location of the photo, then upload the images to the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Group at http://tinyurl.com/pdn-kingtides.
