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== Shoreline Impacts of Sea Level Rise == | == Shoreline Impacts of Sea Level Rise == | ||
Revision as of 15:57, 29 May 2013
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Shoreline Impacts of Sea Level Rise
Many of us cheer on those swells generated by big storms, whether North Pacific winters on the West Coast, Hurricanes in the fall, or Nor’easters along the Atlantic seaboard. But of course our fun waves often come with a price, eroding the shorelines and beaches that offer a buffer between the powerful oceans and the land that we live on. When too much erosion happens too quickly our homes, streets and public works can be threatened or undermined if they were constructed too close to the waves. There is a constant struggle in many places to keep the sea at bay, whether building concrete seawalls and other structures, or dredging up sand from the seafloor to dump on beaches.
Increased Shoreline Erosion Throughout history the oceans have slowly risen, chewing away at the land, but thanks to warming seas due to climate change, that rise in water levels is predicted to continue and accelerate well into the next century. During storms there are already many areas that suffer from flooded streets and threats of erosion. Imagine raising the water level an additional 2-4 feet and that flooding could be drastically exacerbated. When you have massive storm swells riding on top of those higher water levels, damaging waves are more likely to erode the shore more quickly with devastating affects on shoreline developments. In low-lying areas, like the barrier islands that form much of the East and Gulf coasts, the damage can be particularly heavy as natural sand movements and replenishment cannot keep pace with accelerated erosion.
Most developed coasts and beaches have buildings very close to the sea leaving little room for the ever-expanding ocean. Recent research by scientists at the University of Arizona found that rising seas will have devastating affects on major cities throughout the U.S., saying:
- The Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts will be particularly hard hit. Miami, New Orleans, Tampa, Fla., and Virginia Beach, Va. could lose more than 10 percent of their land area by 2100.
They analyzed land elevations to determine the amount of space that lies within the expected rise in seas, creating a high-resolution map that can be used by communities to help their future planning in light of their risks. Take a look at what might happen where you live.
In the face of eroding beaches, owners of beachfront property will often try to use their political influence to demand that "something be done." The intelligent action would be to move the building away from the ocean. Unfortunately, what has often been done in the past has been to armor the coastline with rocks, concrete and steel. This does not protect or maintain the beach - it only protects the buildings. When protective seawalls are built, the beach in front of them will slowly narrow in the face of sea level rise, eventually leading to a complete loss of that beach.
Loss of Wetlands and Flooding We saw during Hurricane Katrina the impacts that wetland loss played by not having that natural “sponge” to absorb the higher water levels. As sea levels continue to rise we are likely to lose even more wetlands and marshes making the impacts of storms on the coast even worse. Wetlands provide habitat for many species, play a key role in nutrient uptake, serve as the basis for many communities’ economic livelihoods, provide recreational opportunities, and protect local areas from flooding. They can naturally migrate with changing conditions over long periods of time. As the sea rises, the outer boundary of these wetlands will erode, and new wetlands will form inland as previously dry areas are flooded by the higher water levels. But if things change too quickly these critical habitats will get squeezed out of the picture. This can lead to loss of not just natural protection from storms, but also important nursery areas for many types of fish and seafood.
Many barrier islands are backed by large lagoons and sounds. The water levels here will also rise, threatening to flood the islands not just from the ocean side, but from behind. This “inundation” can swamp homes, streets and sewer infrastructure causing permanent land loss and incredible pollution problems. There is also the risk of saltwater tainting our water supplies by intruding into the groundwater.
Conclusion It is critical that community planners make informed decisions when deciding how to react to rising sea levels. The wrong choices could lead down a path where beaches disappear, coastal tourism and fisheries suffer or where billions of dollars are lost to storm-damaged and flooded properties. Luckily, several states have adopted policies to ensure that beaches, dunes, or wetlands are able to migrate inland as sea level rises. Much more needs to be done, though, and it is upon us to push our decision-makers to plan wisely and make the right decisions for the future of our coast.
Sea Level Rise Adaptation Resources
- NOAA Coastal Services Center Hazards and Climate Adaptation – “helps communities take the steps needed to reduce harm to their communities and the planet. Commonly known as adaptation planning, a wide array of tools and services are available to help communities through this process”
- NOAA’s Coastal Climate Adaptation – hundreds of community level resources, references, case studies and outreach materials
- Surfrider’s State of the Beach Erosion Response (contains SLR adaptation discussion) – evaluates each state’s adaptation efforts and provides links to relevant info and tools. Direct links to each state's page are here:
- West Coast: Alaska, British Columbia, California, Oregon, Washington
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- Islands: Hawaii, Puerto Rico
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- Gulf States: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas
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- Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island
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- Mid-Atlantic: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia
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- Southeast: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
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- Google Maps Visualization Tool - global analysis showing areas that could be subject to inundation with sea level rise
- Pacific Institute Study on The Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on the California Coast – “concludes that sea-level rise will inevitably change the character of the California coast, and that adaptation strategies must be evaluated, tested, and implemented if the risks identified in the report are to be reduced or avoided. Populations and critical infrastructure at risk are shown in detailed maps prepared by the Pacific Institute available online here.”
- CA Coastal Commission Climate Change Resources
- Surfrider Chapter Managed Retreat Examples
- • Surfer’s Point: Ventura Rivermouth
- – Paul Jenkin
- – http://www.surferspoint.org
- • Goleta County Beach: Santa Barbara
- – Scott Bull
- – http://santabarbara.surfrider.org/
- • Sloat: Ocean Beach
- – Bill McLaughlin
- – http://sloaterosionob.blogspot.com/
- Sea Level Rise activities for volunteers
- 350.org Connect the Dots: http://connect.climatedots.org/
- Preparing for Sea Level Rise: http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/responses/plans/
- CA King Tides Initiative: http://www.californiakingtides.org/
- WA King Tides Initiative: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm
- OR King Tides Initiative: http://www.climateadaptationplanning.net/kingtides/
- Blue Line Project: http://www.bluelineproject.org/about.php
Key Terms
Resilience: The ability of a community to cope with damage or change
Vulnerability: Sensitivity to a hazard
Adaptation: How to adjust to changing conditions