Like life, there will be highs and lows with ebbs and flows this week. But unlike most weeks, the highs will be like, “I just won Mega Millions”; and the lows will be like realizing, “This is last week’s ticket.” The best way to deal with it? Grab a camera and document the drama.
“King tides,” as the highest annual tides are called, provide a peek of what the state can expect from sea level rise in the coming years. After five seasons of sea-level rise outreach, the California King Tides Project now seeks to build partnerships with citizen scientists, including students and local residents, to photograph these ultra-high tides, which highlight the way homes, harbors, and other infrastructure, as well as beaches, wetlands, and public access to the coast, may be affected by sea level rise. The photos that you take this week and share at www.california.kingtides.net help scientists and managers better plan for flood risks, and give you a way to participate in the science that will drive decisions in your community.
“King tides give us a glimpse of the potential ‘new normal’ along the California coast,” said Coastal Commission executive director Charles Lester. “These extreme tides may become routine in coming years.”