King tide
King tide is the popular name for an especially high tide. The phrase is used mostly in Australia and other Pacific nations.
In the lunar month, the highest tides occur roughly every 14 days, at the new and full moons, when the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun are in line. These are called spring tides.
On Australia's East Coast, the highest tides occur during the winter months of June, July and August, and the summer months of December, January and February. The highest of each of these periods (i.e., one in winter and one in summer, totalling two per year) are known as the king tides.
The winter king tide usually occurs at night and therefore goes unnoticed. Consequently the summer king tide usually catches the most attention. On such days the surf is particularly dangerous — tall waves, long clean breaks, strong rips, consistent sets: ideal for surfing, but seductive and dangerous for inexperienced swimmers.
King tides are particularly formidable on the island of Tuvalu, where they can devastate the low lying atoll's people and wildlife. Sea level rise may exacerbate these effects.[1][2]
As with all spring tides, king tides occur with the coming of new and full moons. Some traditional mythologies hold that such times cause madness, a possible origin of the word "lunacy".[3]
See also
References
- ^
Shukman, David (2008-01-25). "Paradise in peril - King Tide diary". BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^
Shukman, David (2008-01-22). "Tuvalu struggles to hold back tide". BBC. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Thomas, Abbie (2002). "King of all Tides". ABC.
External links
- King Tide | The Sinking of Tuvalu
- King Tide Photo Initiative | British Columbia Ministry of Environment
- King Tides in Washington State
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