The sun and moon’s surprising correlation to sunny-day flooding
A newly discovered pattern in sunny-day flooding related to sea level rise could help coastal communities predict and plan for future high-water events.
By comparing a century of sea-level data with records of solar and lunar activity also identified in tree rings, scientists at the University of Florida found a link between sunspots, the moon’s orbit and high sea levels in the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. Atlantic seaboard.
Using the pattern to forecast into the future, the researchers predict anomalously high sea levels in the Southeastern United States for periods around 2028-29, 2052, 2064, 2072, and 2098.