King tides provide a glimpse into Auckland’s climate future
Part of the Global King Tides movement, King Tides Auckland is a community initiative encouraging people to visit and photograph the king tides.
The term 'king tide' is a common term for the highest tides that occur over the course of the year. These especially high tides eventuate when a new or full moon occurs at the same time as the moon is at its closest to the earth. King tides are naturally occurring and predictable events. However, the severity of a king tide can be influenced by local weather and oceanic conditions. If a king tide occurs during a storm, water levels can become so high they have the potential to cause damage to areas of coastline and property.
Apart from providing great photo opportunities, a king tide can act like a crystal ball, allowing a glimpse into the future to see what Auckland’s coastline may look like in years to come as a result of sea level rise.
Ben Sheeran, environmental scientist and founder of the Auckland King Tide Initiative says "climate change is a huge problem and it feels like a problem that's far too big to solve alone."
Utilising a team of citizen scientists and students, he says "sometimes taking photos, measuring, having an input into these decisions we need to make is one way that people can feel more engaged and empowered as we face this challenge together."