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What is a king tide in San Diego?
King tides as high as 7 feet above sea level hit some San Diego County beaches on Monday, which was capable of causing flooding in low-lying coastal areas. The high tides were thanks to a phenomenon called king tides, which occurs as a result of a stronger gravitational pull from the moon.
Do king tides happen every year?
King tides are a normal occurrence once or twice every year in coastal areas. In the United States, they are predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
What is a king tide and how often does it happen?
The king tide is the highest predicted high tide of the year at a coastal location. It is above the highest water level reached at high tide on an average day. WHEN IS A KING TIDE? King tides are a normal occurrence once or twice every year in coastal areas.
How high do King Tides get?
The term “King Tide” is a non-scientific term used to describe the highest seasonal tides that occur each year. For example, in Charleston, the average high tide range is about 5.5 ft., whereas during a King Tide event the high tide range may reach 7 ft. or higher.
Where is the best place to see the King Tides in San Diego?
Mission Bay Drive in San Diego, to photograph the King Tides. Parking is available on North Mission Bay Drive just east of the bridge.
What are king tides 2022?
The next California King Tides will be December 23-24, 2022 and January 21-22, 2023. Use your smart phone or digital camera to participate in the Project by taking and uploading photos of king tides through the King Tides Photo Upload form.
Why is it called Kings tide?
King tides receive their royal designation because they produce the highest, as well as the lowest, tides of the year. In the winter, they rise and fall along the Pacific coast when the sun and moon line up in their coziest proximity to Earth, exerting their greatest gravitational pull upon ocean waters.
Are king tides and spring tides the same?
King tides are a type of spring tide. As with regular spring tides, which occur a couple of times a month, a king tide is the result of the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth. (The extra gravitational pull of the sun, as well as the moon, creates higher-than-normal tides.)
Do king tides cause big waves?
The short answer is no. Although the elevated water levels of king tides and perigean spring tides increase the likelihood of flooding, a large majority of coastal damage in California comes from when swell (i.e. wave) and/or storm (i.e. rain) events coincide with moderate to high tides.
What is the difference between a spring tide and a king tide?
King tides are spring tides when the moon is in perigee and the Earth is in perihelion. The gravitational pull from both the moon and sun are even greater at these close distances, making king tides even more pronounced (higher and lower) than regular spring tides.
Are king tides new?
King tides occur during a perigean (when Moon is closest to Earth) spring tide (full and new moon); in other words, a full or new moon must co-occur when the Moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit.
How high do king tides get?
When did the term king tides start?
2009
Over the last decade the concept of “king tides” has become a common colloquial term to describe higher than normal high tides. The terminology originated in 2009, when Australia experienced their highest seasonal tides in almost 20 years.