King Tide Photo Challenge August-November 2019

Local Governments need you to document how sea level rise will impact the Keys 

The public is invited to document king tides (the highest high tides of the year) to help plan for future flood risks.  Everyone is welcome to participate!

For the last weeks in August, September, October and November, the normal high tides in the Keys will reach new heights as the annual cycle of the sun and moon draw closest to Earth, producing flooding up to 2.5 feet above normal.

King tide images offer a living record of the changes to our coasts and shorelines and a glimpse of what our daily tides may look like in the future as a result of sea level rise. The Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact Counties, consisting of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, are planning for an additional 3-7 inches of sea level rise by 2030 and 9-24 inches by 2060, based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports.

Building a photographic library of how our islands are already experiencing flooding is an important step to helping areas that are especially vulnerable.  Here is how you can help:

  1. Pick your Sites: We want photos from all over the Keys.  It is important to choose a site that is both low and recognizable as a spot that is usually above ground.  Especially important are areas near your neighborhood that most people might not know about.
  2. Time Your Tide: It is important to be there at the highest tide for the best photo.  Once you have chosen your area, check the tide chart for the right time for your area (high tide time can vary by up to an hour depending on where your site is located).  http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/floridakeyssites.html
  3. Send it In: Email your best photos to [email protected]. We will web-post the best shots on our Flickr site and used to obtain help with adaptation.  All high tide photos submitted to the cause will become the property of Monroe County, with full credit to the photographers.  See our full map of photos available through the City of Key West website or Preserve Island Life Facebook page.

King tides photo contests began in Queensland, Australia in 2009 and are now held in at least three countries and ten states in this country. King tides are not related to climate change and are not sea level rise. The term king tide is a non-scientific term used to describe naturally occurring, exceptionally high tides that take place when the sun and moon’s gravitational pull align making the oceans bulge.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]