King tides – helping New South Wales and South East Queensland prepare for climate change impacts

Photographing or recording the effect of the king tide on coastal infrastructure creates a helpful visual record for use in adaptation planning.

Yesterday, Australians gained an insight into what the country’s coastlines may look like in 50 years, when New South Wales and South East Queensland experienced the highest daytime ‘king tides’ forecast for 2009.

“By 2060 to 2070 we could be experiencing tides of at least this magnitude every month, rather than just twice a year due to climate-change induced sea level rise,” says a research scientist with CSIRO’s Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, Dr Kathy McInnes.

King tides are natural events that happen twice a year and Dr McInnes says observing the king tide can assist communities to plan and prepare for the effects of climate change.

“This king tide is not caused by climate change, but it can help us picture what our coastlines might look like in the future.”

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sea levels are projected to rise by between 18-79cm or more this century.

“Photographing or recording the effect of the king tide on seawalls, jetties, coastal infrastructure and foreshore areas creates a helpful visual record for use in adaptation planning,” Dr McInnes says.

“In New South Wales the State Government, local councils and community groups are coordinating a state-wide photographic survey of the king tide for this purpose.

•Date:13th January 2009• Region: Australia •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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