Also Called "King Tides." We had heard of these photos, but did not look in the right place or use the right words in our search, as the extreme tides are also called "King Tides."
Ecology's King Tide Initiative. Attached are the notices of the "Washington King Tide Photo Initiative" that came out both in some emails and as a news release earlier this month. Thank you to those who emailed us this information! We have attached the emails and the news release below.
Jim Aho
The WA Dept. of Ecology is asking for help to get the word out about the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative. Ecology is recruiting people along Washington's coasts and in the Puget Sound to take part in a new initiative to collect photos of extreme high tides.
From California to British Columbia, individuals will be sharing photos of extreme high tides, or "king tides" to help us all visualize how higher sea levels may alter our coastal communities. In Washington, individuals are encouraged submit their photos of king tide events to the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/.
King tides occur naturally when the sun and moon's gravitational pulls reinforce one another, and though they are not caused by climate change, they do give us a pretty dramatic glimpse of the impacts sea level rise may have on the Puget Sound and our outer coast. Similar king tide initiatives in British Colombia, Oregon and California will
help us understand the effect of higher sea levels on communities all along the Pacific Northwest coastline.
Please visit Ecology's king tides website at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm
and flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/) to read more about King Tides, peak tide times in your area and how you can participate!
Our website contains King tide date and time predictions for many of Washington's coastal communities, including: Aberdeen, Bellingham, Bremerton, Edmonds, La Push, Neah Bay, Olympia, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Seattle, Sekiu (Clallam Bay), Tacoma, Toke Point (South Bend area), and Westport. If your community isn't listed above, visit our
website for detailed instructions on how to locate tide information for your area.
Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing photos from many volunteers! If you have questions, please give us a call or send an email. We've included sample text for email distribution to potential volunteers below.
Johanna Ofner
Johanna.ofner@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6229
&
Eli Levitt
Eli.levitt@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6928
Sample e-mail distribution text:
Washington King Tide Photo Initiative: A Preview of Future Sea Level Rise
Seasonal high tides occurring throughout January and February will provide a preview of what Washington might expect to see on a more regular basis as a result of rising sea levels. Members of the public are invited tophotograph these high tide events post their photos to the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Page. These photos allow us to visualize sea level rise's potential impact on the Puget Sound and our outer coast.
From California to British Columbia, individuals will be sharing photos of extreme high tides, or "king tides" to help us all visualize how higher sea levels may alter our coastal communities. In Washington, individuals are encouraged submit their photos of king tide events to the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/.
King tides occur naturally when the sun and moon's gravitational pulls reinforce one another, and though they are not caused by climate change, they do give us a pretty dramatic glimpse of the impacts sea level rise may have on the Puget Sound and our outer coast. Similar king tide initiatives in British Colombia, Oregon and California will
help us understand the effect of higher sea levels on communities all along the Pacific Northwest coastline.
Please visit Ecology's king tides website at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm
and flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/) to read more about King Tides, peak tide times in your area and how you can participate!
Our website contains King tide date and time predictions for many of Washington's coastal communities, including: Aberdeen, Bellingham, Bremerton, Edmonds, La Push, Neah Bay, Olympia, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Seattle, Sekiu (Clallam Bay), Tacoma, Toke Point (South Bend area), and Westport. If your community isn't listed above, visit our
website for detailed instructions on how to locate tide information for your area.
Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing photos from many volunteers! If you have questions, please give us a call or send an email. We've included sample text for email distribution to potential volunteers below.
Johanna Ofner
Johanna.ofner@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6229
&
Eli Levitt
Eli.levitt@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6928
Sample e-mail distribution text:
Washington King Tide Photo Initiative: A Preview of Future Sea Level Rise
Seasonal high tides occurring throughout January and February will provide a preview of what Washington might expect to see on a more regular basis as a result of rising sea levels. Members of the public are invited tophotograph these high tide events post their photos to the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Page. These photos allow us to visualize sea level rise's potential impact on the Puget Sound and our outer coast.
Department of Ecology News Release - January 5, 2011
11-010
Public invited to share photos of extreme high tides in Washington during January, February 2011
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is inviting the public to share photos of upcoming extreme high tide events in January and February 2011.
Extreme high tides occur naturally when the sun’s and moon’s gravitational pulls reinforce one another. These high tides are called “king tides” by some West Coast states, British Columbia and other countries such as Australia.
In Washington’s coastal areas, the high winter tides occur naturally from late December through February. They offer a compelling glimpse of how sea level rise from global climate change could affect the state’s coastal areas.
Scientists at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group project that sea level will rise in the Puget Sound region as a result of climate change. Among of the various possible scenarios, the mid-range estimate is a sea level rise of approximately 6 inches by 2050.
Ecology’s “Washington King Tide Photo Initiative” gives Washington residents an opportunity to help Ecology collect photos of coastal flooding along Puget Sound and the state’s outer coast. To participate, follow these simple steps:
- Join Ecology’s FLICKR Group
- Review the high tide predictions for your area to find the right time and date
- Take photos during a high tide event in your area and post the photos on FLICKR.
A 6-inch sea level rise would likely:
- Intensify flooding in coastal areas, especially during high tides and major storms.
- Shift coastal beaches inland.
- Threaten structures, roads and utilities, and other near-shore land uses.
- Increase coastal bluff erosion, endangering houses and other structures built near the bluff edges.
- Threaten coastal freshwater aquifers (underground water supplies) by increased salt water intrusion.
Preparing Washington communities for sea level rise and other effects of climate change is a priority for Ecology and other state agencies.
“Understanding what climate change will mean to our environment is a key to making Washington climate-smart, and these very high tides are like a window into the future,” said Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant. “As sea level rises in the years to come, many of our shorelines – including those in our most populated areas – are very likely to be affected. By inviting the public to help us document the effects of higher water levels during king tides, we are laying the groundwork to help communities identify those areas most vulnerable to coastal flooding.
He said, “This work will help us anticipate what Washington communities can expect along much of our state’s thousands of miles of tidal coastline.”
Why climate change matters
A 2009 report by the University of Oregon states that, without additional actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the severity and duration of impacts from climate change will be profound and will negatively affect nearly every part of Washington’s economy. It could cost each household in Washington an average of $1,250 each year by 2020. See the economic impacts report.
A 2008 Washington state law calls for our state to reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas (sometimes referred to simply as “carbon”) emissions according to this timeline:
- Achieve 1990 emission levels by 2020.
- Bring emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035.
- Bring them to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
State agencies have already taken several actions to:
- Reduce their own energy use and related carbon emissions.
- Work with businesses and others on carbon reduction strategies.
- Develop a program to report greenhouse gas emissions.
- Implement the federal program to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the U.S. Clean Air Act.
- Prepare Washington for environmental changes that will affect infrastructure and communities, human health and security, and natural resources.
However, more will be needed to achieve the greenhouse gas emission goals in the state law.
###
Media Contact: Curt Hart, 360-407-6990; cell, 360-480-7908 (curt.hart@ecy.wa.gov)
ECOconnect blog: Join Washington’s King Tide Photo Initiative (http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2011/01/join-washingtons-king-tide-photo.html)
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