Over the next three days, Californians can expect higher tides than usual along the coast.
With the arrival of the “King Tides”–known for being the highest tides of the year–an initiative is in place to show residents what the shoreline will be like in the future.
People are asked to take photos of the high tides in their communities to build an archive of images on how the shoreline is constantly changing, said Heidi Nutters of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
The initiative began in 2010 as a pilot project in the Bay Area and has escalated into a statewide effort, Nutters said.
Since its inception, California King Tides Initiative has logged more than 500 photos, which can be viewed at www.flickr.com/groups/cakingtides.
“One of the important things to think about is that today’s high tide of the year could become a daily occurrence,” Nutters said.
Sea level is expected to rise about one foot by 2050, and up to five feet by 2100 along the California coast, Nutters said.
Nutters said the high tides will take place today through Friday, and range in levels from a couple inches higher to several feet depending on a number of variables.
The highest estimated tide level during the initiative is 10.5 feet, at Coyote Creek in San Jose, according to the California King Tides Initiative website.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated the dates for the shorelines to be at its highest.
Other dates of the initiative throughout the winter include Jan. 9 to 11 and Feb. 7 to 9. One part of the initiative already took place Nov. 13 to 15.
To locate where and when tides will be the highest, visit www.californiakingtides.org/when.
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