Geography 100 Second Term Project: Effects of El Nino in the Vancouver Region This report is an account of my findings over the previous year up to this year on the effects of El Nino on tides in Vancouver. To have an effective report, one must include data of a historical nature, especially when the subject is a phenomenon such as El Nino. The historical data is recorded from various sources such as the "Vancouver Tide Guide", "BC Fishing" and other such related sources. Since actual "hands on" examination of this global phenomenon is slightly impossible, I did the most that was possible. I recorded datum from various tide heights and cross-referenced these numbers to historical data.
1. High sea levels The 1997-98 El Niño increased sea levels along the entire coast of British Columbia and all through the Strait of Georgia. Sea levels at most ports in British Columbia, particularly Vancouver, were about 10 centimetres above normal in the summer of 1997, and were about 20 to 30 centimetres above normal in the winter of 1997-98.
Jan Hooks
BRITISH COLUMBIA 1955 plate![Chart of abnormal ocean surface temperatures [ºC] observed in December 1997 during the last strong El Niño.](/uploads/11/113336/chart-abnormal-ocean-surface-temperatures-c-observed-decembe.gif)
Chart of abnormal ocean surface temperatures [ºC]...In addition to El Niño, several other factors raise sea levels in winter. The winds along the West Coast generally increase sea levels by about 10 to 20 centimeters in winter. The gravitational pull of the moon and sun sets up highest tides in British Columbia in December and January.
The strongest sea level rise at Point Atkinson (in West Vancouver, see table below) attributed to any El Niño in our records was observed in 1982-83. On December 16, 1982, the observed high of 2.51 metres above mean sea level was the highest ever. This high water was 0.9 metres above the normal tide, of which almost 0.2 metres can be attributed to El Niño effects, and the remaining 0.7 metres is due...