Did you know some of the year’s highest tides occur in the winter?
These tides — often called “King Tides” — occur naturally when the sun and the moon align, causing an increased gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans.
This year Washington’s king tides will occur in December and January and the Department of Ecology is again inviting residents and visitors to grab their cameras and head to the beaches for our third Washington King Tide Photo Initiative.These tides — often called “King Tides” — occur naturally when the sun and the moon align, causing an increased gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans.
Ecology collected over 400 King Tide photos in 2010 and 2011! You can see the photos at the Washington King Tides Photo Initiative’s Flickr Group.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/
To participate in this winter’s Washington King Tide Photo Initiative, follow these steps:
1. Use Ecology’s King Tide Map Schedule – Winter 2011-2012 to find the time and date of the highest tides in your area. Check out Ecology’s Coastal Atlas to locate a public beach.
2. Take photos during one of the identified high tides in your area. We recommend taking photos in areas where high water levels can be gauged against familiar landmarks like sea walls, jetties, bridge supports, or local buildings.
3. Upload your photos to the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Group. Just follow the instructions on the page.
For more information about the King Tides Photo Initiative go to:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm
