Get involved in Oregon's coastal management! Citizen science is defined as "the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists." Below are some ways you can get involved in citizen science projects with Oregon's Coastal Management Program.
Oregon King Tides Photo Initiative
Every year in early winter, high tides in Oregon are higher than usual. These extreme high tides, commonly called "King Tides," occur at a few specific times during the year when the moon is closest to the Earth, and the Earth is closest to the sun.
These tides are being documented all over the world to help visualize and understand the impacts of sea level rise (like flooding and erosion) in the coming decades. These tides are especially important to document in the winter when storm surge and high winds and waves are more frequent, creating even higher water levels. Through the King Tides Photo Initiative, citizen scientists all over the world are contributing to the study of sea level rise and the changing climate.
Everyone is invited to participate in the project by taking pictures of areas impacted by king tides in Oregon and sharing your photos on social media (#kingtides and #orkingtides) or through our web app. Over time as the project continues, photos taken at the same locations year after year will help to show changing sea levels and other impacts. To view photos from past seasons, visit our Flickr page or check out our King Tides Photo Map.
To find out the next King Tides dates, how to participate, and more, please visit our Oregon King Tides Photo Project website: www.oregonkingtides.net.