Molly Peterson/KPCC

At Mother's Beach on January 10, high tide extended well past the lifeguard station.

Along California's coast today, the highest tides of the winter season will batter the shore for the third day in a row.

They're called king tides. In this state, as along other coastal areas, environmental groups are asking amateur photographers to go out and document them. It's part of an international effort to help the public visualize how a warming climate will affect the ocean.