Island County gets an advance look at future sea levels

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

COUPEVILLE — Island County is getting a leg up in planning for the likelihood of rising sea levels.

Washington Sea Grant, an outreach arm of the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, has put together a study to estimate that amount over the next century as it applies to the waters around Whidbey and Camano islands.

It is notoriously difficult to make predictions involving changes to the climate of any sort, given the number of variables involved, ranging from the rate of glacial melting to public policies on pollution control.

But Sea Grant researcher Ian Miller has taken a stab at it by combining historical data and previously published research into a new way of looking at the problem.

And the end result is a number that Island County planners can use: 5.9 feet.

That’s the amount the sea level is likely to rise around Whidbey and Camano islands by 2150, the data suggests.

http://www.heraldnet.com/news/island-county-gets-an-advance-look-at-future-sea-levels/

[KT2000]

1. another problem is - no water

One of the guys from that program visited the Olympic Peninsula and showed a map with no snow in the Olympics. As Sequim resident, that means no water. Wonder how many people even consider their source of water being threatened.

[cilla4progress]

2. Just finishing a trip to these very locations

Charming and lovely. We reside in central Washington state and have already lost a home to wildfire there. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, I'm afraid.

[LisaM]

3. The news outlets really need to start discussing snow pack.

It might interfere with the 11 minutes of traffic reporting at the beginning of every news cycle but it's important.