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Natural Phenomena

King Tide

Geological Events

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An especially high tide that occurs several times a year when the gravitational pull of the sun and moon align and combine at their most effective, typically around the new or full moon nearest the point when the moon is closest to Earth. King tides are a normal, predictable astronomical event rather than a storm-driven surge, but they offer a preview of the coastal flooding that will become routine as sea levels continue to rise.

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Storm Surge, Natural Phenomena

When an astronomical king tide coincides with a storm surge, the two combine into the most severe recorded coastal flooding events, a documented compound-flood mechanism distinct from either phenomenon occurring alone.

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