King tides showcase future sea level rise
Washington's 56 cities and counties with marine shorelines are experiencing this winter's final cycle of king tides. 'King tide' is a colloquial t...
January 25, 2023
1:06 PM
Washington's 56 cities and counties with marine shorelines are experiencing this winter's final cycle of king tides. 'King tide' is a colloquial term used to describe an extremely high tide. Ordinary tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the Earth and the moon; king tides happen when astronomical events amplify that pull — most notably when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, and when the sun aligns with the moon and, therefore, exerts its gravitational pull in the same direction.