Today on Marine Science Minute with Florida Sea Grant: King Tides
It’s a beautiful sunny day on the Florida coast with no hurricanes in sight. So why are the streets flooded with seawater?
Extreme high tides, or king tides, can occur during perigean spring tides (when the new or full moon is closest to Earth) and seasonal high-water levels.
Sea level rise is enhancing these natural events, and ‘Sunny Day’ flooding is increasing in Florida, threatening water supplies and damaging infrastructure. When king tides coincide with coastal storms, the impacts can be devastating.
Strategies to increase resilience, such as restoring coastal habitats and redesigning built environments will help communities adapt to high tide flooding and other climate impacts.
For information about this and other coastal topics, contact your county extension office or visit Florida Sea Grant at flseagrant.org.
