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Biggest king tide in 18 years hits east coast

Monday January 12, 2009 - 07:10 EDT

Scientists are keen to see any effects on low-lying areas. - ABC

Climate scientists will be out in force today to examine the effect of the biggest king tide to hit the east coast in 18 years.

King tides come twice a year, and today the sun, earth and moon have lined up to create a one in 18 year high.

The CSIRO's Dr Kathleen McInnes says climate change could make things much worse.

"In 50 years' time, when we get that much global sea level rise occurring anyway, this is the sort of thing we might be experiencing every two weeks," she said.

"Of course, they could go a lot higher than that when we get a severe weather system."

Dr McInnes says scientists are keen to see any effects on low-lying areas.

"The tides today are significant in that they are closest to the highest astronomical tide, which is a high tide level that occurs roughly once every 18.6 years," she said.

The New South Wales Environment Department has asked volunteers to photograph the king tide.

Neil Fraser from the weather bureau says the peak in Sydney Harbour will be 2.5 metres.

"It's a natural event that occurs twice a year and it is going to occur up and down the east coast of Australia between 8:00am and 10.30am," he said.

"The tide will be 40 to 50 centimetres higher the the average spring tide."

- ABC

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