Flood Risk on Rise for New York City, New Jersey Coast, Study Finds
For the first time, climate researchers compared both sea-level rise rates and storm surge heights in prehistoric and modern eras and found that the combined increases of each have raised the likelihood of a devastating 500-year flood occurring as often as every 25 years.
The Waters are Rising on NASA’s Shores
Sea level also matters in a horizontal direction. A rule of thumb is that 1 inch of vertical change in sea level translates into 100 inches of horizontal loss on a flat beach or marsh. In this way, a little bit of sea level rise can translate into a lot of water moving inland when there are storms or abnormally high tides.
Bank of England’s Carney Warns of Climate Change Risk
The Bank of England governor has given a stark warning that climate change poses a huge risk to global stability.
New Zealand Creates Vast Ocean Sanctuary
A vast stretch of New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone is being turned into an ocean sanctuary in a landmark deal to preserve one of the most pristine and unique environments on Earth.
Super-typhoon Dujuan Slams Northern Taiwan
Super Typhoon Dujuan, made landfall along Taiwan’s mountainous northeast coast near the town of Nan’ao. The storm came ashore with sustained winds of 225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour—the equivalent of a category 4 hurricane. The storm also hit the Chinese coastal city of Putian on Tuesday morning, but no reports of damage followed.
What it Means: Shell Abandons Arctic Oil Drilling
Shell is giving up on its expensive and controversial push to produce oil in Alaska’s Arctic waters, a decision that darkens the long-term oil prospects of the U.S. and brings relief to environmental groups that had tried desperately to block the project.
Aquaculture in Northeast China
The aquaculture basins have been built out from the wooded coast to a distance of nearly 6 kilometers (4 miles). Fish farms have been constructed at many points along the provincial coastline, but this group of basins facing the Yellow Sea is the largest.
Giant Sinkhole Swallows Up Australian Shoreline
A gigantic sinkhole, about 100 meters by 100 meters, erodes part of a camp site on a beach in Australia, plunging tents and cars into the water. Officials urged people to stay away because the sinkhole could expand as ocean currents impacted on the existing sinkhole.
The Micronesia Challenge: Sustainable Coral Reefs and Fisheries
While island societies can do little to control carbon emissions from developed nations, they can manage their local resources to enhance the ecosystem services that coastal habitats, including reefs, provide for people.