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As Hurricane Dorian strengthens, it may coincide with a phenomenon twice a year that could cause even more damage than a Category 4 hurricane.
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Royal tides, or unusually high tides that occur when the moon is closest to the Earth, are currently occurring in Florida and will likely continue until Labor Day, the day scheduled for Dorian.
How do big tides affect what's happening with Dorian? Here is an overview of the royal tides and what they do.
What is a royal tide?
The term "high tide" is a term used to describe an event particularly marked by high tide. This is not a scientific term.
What is causing a royal tide?
The tides occur when there is an alignment of gravitational attraction between the sun and the moon in the northern hemisphere, according to the National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration.
"Twice a year, when the Earth, the Sun and the Moon align, when the Moon and the Sun are perigee and perihelion, we usually experience the most important tides of the Year, "according to the North Carolina King Tides Project.
What are perigee and perihelion?
Perigee is the name of the point where the moon is closest to the Earth.
Perihelia means a point in the orbit of a planet (here the Earth), an asteroid or a comet close to the sun.
What does this have to do with the tides?
A few times a year, in spring and in autumn, the new moon or full moon coincides with the perigee of the moon.
During the full or new moons, the average tidal range is slightly larger. A new moon or full moon occurs when the sun, the earth and the moon are almost aligned. The tides created by this alignment are slightly above average and are called "Perigean spring tides".
What happens when they occur around the time a tropical system reaches the land?
A tropical system pushed the water inland before reaching the land. If this happens during a Perigean spring tide, an already abnormally high or even higher tide aggravates material damage and coastal erosion.
Royal tides do not raise water levels in an extraordinary way, but they make them go up.
When is the next Royal Tide in Florida?
Royal tides on the east coast of Florida began Monday and are expected to continue until next Tuesday.
NOAA predicts high tides will reach their peak Thursday and Friday night in Miami Beach.
© 2019 Cox Media Group.
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