The world will end in 2012…

Well, that’s Hollywood.  Less spectacular, perhaps, but also interesting, is the “King Tide” project.  King Tides are exceptionally high tides, which occur a couple times a year, when the moon and sun’s gravity work together to accentuate the normal tidal range.
Where I live in Northwest BC, that tidal range is already pretty dramatic: the difference can be as much as 25 feet (over 7 meters, or 4 ½ regulation size hockey sticks stacked one on top of one another).  That tidal range is part of what makes the coast so rich.  The diversity and abundance of critters that thrive in the intertidal zone is fantastic, as are the differences between high and low tide, in terms of the types of fishes and interactions.  It also makes us aware of how important it is to better understand changes in the intertidal zone as climate change affects sea levels.

(c) Mike Ambach/WWF-Canada
Sea level change has a myriad of implications, both at the biological level, and in terms of how we build and adapt infrastructure: near-shore roads and rail routes, port facilities, foreshore development, that kind of thing.  If we are to continue to develop and use our coasts responsibly, we need to have an eye to future conditions.
The King Tide project is an effort to have everyday British Columbians help to document the highest of the high tides, and so, give us some visual reference points to help think about the need to adapt to the effects of climate change.  Techniques that use visualizations have proven to be powerful tools to help engage citizens, planners, and decision makers.
It may not be quite as dramatic as tidal waves crashing over Mount Everest, but it’s probably more realistic and a lot more practical.  You can check out all the photos taken by British Columbians on an interactive map, or by visiting the Flickr group that has been set up for these photos.