Witness King Tides

Article in the Cairns Post

Other news articles on Witness King Tides

CAPTURING king tides on camera could reveal what our coast might look like in the future.
That's what Green Cross Australia is saying to encourage Cairns residents to take photographs of sea levels next king tide on January 22 at 9am.
The images will be used to create a visual database and generate awareness of rising sea levels.
Chief executive Mara Bun said the Witness King Tides project would better prepare Queensland for a future where sea levels are higher than they are now.
"Witness King Tides is about gathering visual data to prepare ourselves for the future," Ms Bun said.
"Given that 85 per cent of Queensland's population lives within 50km of the coast, it is vital that we know what to expect in the coming years."
The project encourages people living near the coast to see first-hand the potential effects of rising sea levels, and to share their images online via the Witness King Tides portal.
Surf Life Saving Queensland chief operations officer George Hill said climate change and extreme weather events posed a threat to clubs and services and all clubs were encouraged to take part in taking photos.
"Projections of change in climate signify that erosion and inundation will be important issues," he said.
Rebecca Edwards of Cairns said she was drawn to the project for its concerns over the environment and each January when the king tide came she saw more beach erosion.
She also loved photography and hoped to meet like-minded people on the day.
King tides occur twice a year when there is an alignment of the gravitational pull between sun and moon.
When they occur during cyclones, floods or storms, they have the potential to cause damage, and have previously flooded parts of Cairns CBD, but otherwise they are no more than the highest tides.
Witness King Tide projects have run in California, Canada and New South Wales and this will be the first in Queensland.
People can upload their photographs to www.witnesskingtides.org or visit the website to track tides and information on best viewing points.