The King Tide Conundrum

Over the last decade the concept of king tides'' has become a common colloquial term to describe higher than normal high tides. The terminology originated in 2009, when Australia experienced their highest seasonal tides in almost 20 years. In response, a public engagement program, The King Tides Project,'' was formed that has since spread globally. Discrepancies regarding the definition and frequency of king tides can be identified between the different initiatives. This communication analyzes the multifaceted and contradictory meanings of king tides and concludes by providing a holistic and comprehensive definition.