King tides continue for several days after the apex of prime celestial conditions because tides “slosh” - an informal term. Puget Sound’s twisting topography amplifies and mutes each tidal movement, as an average of 1.5 cubic miles of seawater works its way into and out of Puget Sound. The reverse is true of low atmospheric pressure. High atmospheric pressure compresses the water and causes both high and low tides to be lower. Wind determines the size and reach of waves. Weather conditions influence tides, and actual tides can be different from predicted tides by over a foot. All of these factors will combine to provide a window into the future.Īs with most things in nature, it’s a little more complex than the predictable movement of planets and moons. 13, putting the three celestial bodies in a straight sun-moon-Earth line, effectively combining the sun and moon’s gravitational pull on the tides - a situation known as a spring tide, which describes the “springing forth” of water at those times. The moon, which exerts a more powerful sway over the tides, reaches its monthly perigee - its closest point to Earth - Jan. 2, when its orbit takes it closest to the sun, creating the largest solar influence on the tides. The highest tides of the year - the kings - occur in winter for astronomical reasons. “King tide” is an informal term originating in Australia and the Pacific islands that has spread to North America. King tides offer a window into the future, giving scientists and citizens alike a look at how tidal flooding might affect both natural beaches and manmade structures. The rise will accelerate over the next 20 years, according to climate models, though predictions for total rise locally range from a few inches to nearly a foot - and ongoing rise beyond that. Sea level has risen slightly but steadily in the last several decades. The images sent in by citizen scientists will be added to an ongoing effort to document the effects of high water on local waterfronts. The University of Washington Sea Grant Program has again issued a call for the public to take photographs of the year’s highest tides on Puget Sound and the outer coast.
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