The Sea IS Rising......so what's the plan?

[Dover]

(cross-posting from Science forum)

Those of you who live on a coast, are you waiting for directions from the government?
Do you have your own plan or considered these sea level changes? I have a friend involved in coastal surveys for this issue and he is a little overwhelmed by all that must be done and how slow the process is in evaluating each individual area and preparing for the inevitable conditions ahead.

Besides SLR - Sea Level Rise (which btw seems to be accelerating at a much faster pace than initially thought), there are other consequences to that kind of shifting of waters that effect the earth (such as greater volcanic activity, tsunamis, possible shifting of plates, etc.).
Anyway, it does seem that the coastal regions are among the most vulnerable to these changes, although the maps of sea level rise provided below are not specific enough to localized regional variances to provide a completely accurate portrait.
In other words, the models provide a broad stroke approach. As was seen with the effects of the recent tsunami, some areas of the coast were devastated, while some geological features spared others. With that in mind, here are some attempts to map out the potential results of sea level rise, and info about ongoing studies and attempts to survey regional geological anomolies, preserve coastlines, evacuation plans, etc.

United States:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/OAR/globalwarming.nsf/content/ResourceCenterPublicationsSeaLevelRiseIndex.html

Interactive global maps:
http://merkel.zoneo.net/Topo/Applet/

[villager]

1. Since the sea is only 6,000 years old, we certainly don't need a "plan!"

;-)

[leftofthedial]

2. hang ten

[pocoloco]

3. Hire some engineers from Holland???

[Bobbieo]

4. Maybe I'm a spoil sport BUT I don't see much humor in this topic.

I think the geologic shit is about to hit the fan. Too much earthquake activity in The Ring Of Fire.

[chknltl]

6. Nor do I, thanks for saying this. eom

:thumbsup:

[gateley]

8. Check this out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3265261&mesg_id=3265261


I don't think the topic is humorous -- I take it VERY seriously, but I thought there were a couple of very funny and clever responses. :shrug:

[TalkingDog]

15. I have the same tendencies to quip, so I understand the mechanism

It has nothing to do with a failure to take it seriously. It actually gives me time to process the information and consider it.

In a social situation, when a person stands there thinking instead of responding, people tend to think one is "slow". So we are trained throughout our lives to respond quickly.

The other part is a reflexive softening effect. I can release anxiety by quipping first then I am able to deal with the issue in a more serious way. It's a psychic (in the psychological sense) self-defense mechanism. And no, we shouldn't be chastised for it. It's how our brain's work. You wouldn't ask a diabetic to just suck it up and eat some sugar, because that's what everybody else does, would you?

Well, a considerate person wouldn't anyway....

[gateley]

21. Agree on all points. We're both so wise!

And, if you checked out the news clip on the link I included (activity off the Oregon coast) -- what did you think?

[TalkingDog]

24. I didn't really care for the "scientists are puzzled" part

And there is an idea that the increased pressure on the ocean floor is going to cause major upheavals as the sea level continues to rise.

It's a self-adjusting mechanism. It doesn't require our presence to operate and if we get wiped away in the process it cannot care, as it has no feelings. Sorta like George W. Bush but on a global scale and overall a more pleasant entity.

[chknltl]

5. Actually, I live on a hill overlooking the sea.

I dunno, perhaps I am somewhere between 300-500 foot above sea level and a mile away from Commencement Bay in Tacoma, Wa. I would have a ringside seat to whatever Port Of Tacoma, (one of the top ten ports on the West Coast), will be doing to counter SLR. Like most of America, outside of writing my congress-critters and outside of posting things online, I am stuck awaiting leadership from our government.

As to those earthquakes, my home is made of brick. I am not counting on this to survive too big a quake but my driveway gives me concerns. It is sunken, concrete walled and leads into a sunken garage which is adjacent to my basement. I have very real concerns about this driveway because even now the walls lean inward in a manor that they were not origionally intended to be leaning. I no longer park my truck in that garage nor in that driveway because I fear even a moderate quake could bring the walls of that driveway down destroying my truck OR eliminating the exit if it was parked in the garage. I park out on the sidewalk now because of this concern.

What else could I be doing? Well, frankly I just don't know.

[catnhatnh]

7. Well, I live 246' above sea level....

if we proceed as our government has in the past I plan to add beach chairs and raise the rent.

[intaglio]

9. I posted a couple of weeks ago

Personally I'm happy I'm on the 90m (300') contour and that my sister has her own boat to live on (She and her husband are sailing off to the Med in about 6 weeks)

[struggle4progress]

10. If you saw how the Feds responded to WTC threats or Katrina, you already know what "the plan" is

[Bobbieo]

11. And this is why I see no humor in the topic. There is going to be a disaster

of major proportions on the West Coast. Where is the National Guard? What preparations are being made? Nothing is being done. Nothing will be done!!!

[struggle4progress]

12. Loss of coastal real estate could be the least of our concerns

Hard winter freezes play a role in limiting arthropod vectors

Shifts in circulation might well disrupt water resource planning and food production

Changes in growing zones could produce a cascade of plant and animal extinctions, through various mechanisms: for example, if pollinator or prey hatchings or migrations become uncoupled from the flowering of the appropriate plants or the emergence of the prey species

[TheMadMonk]

14. The later it's left. The greater the public "emergency response" funds...

...that can be directed into private purses.

Plans exist. Just not ones that will benefit you and me.

(edit: grammar. Me not I doofus)

[tinrobot]

19. The plan is everyone for themselves.

I'd suggest people move inland.

[SteinbachMB]

13. If Venice

can handle it, why can't everyone else?

[TalkingDog]

16. Because Venice was built on a swamp that eventually turned into

water and canals. It's still sinking. There are a number of submerged floors below the water level and it keeps sinking. But slowly enough so that people can adapt without severe disruption.

The disruptions discussed here are not slow by any stretch of the imagination. We may adapt, but tens of millions will die first. Consider that 90% of the WORLDS population lives in coastal regions.

As all these people migrate inland to escape the rising water, they will use up the available space, water, food, shelter. Many will die, some from disease, some from starvation and lack of water. It will be a breeding ground for communicable diseases.


It will be too big a shock to the system too quickly. Katrina to the power of 100.


That why everybody else cannot be like Venice.

[hatrack]

17. Tax Cuts!! It's solved all our problems in the past, right?

Right?

[Viking12]

18. Is whistling past the graveyard a plan?

Cuz that's all I see being done.

[emmadoggy]

20. Makes me happy that I live about as far from any coastlines as you can get in

this country. I'm in Iowa. However, when it does start happening it will mean a mass influx of people into these inland areas which does concern me. Not to mention just worrying about the plight of so many millions of people who will be affected and lose their homes, and all of the myriad other effects it will have on the world.

Yet governments (local, state, national) all seem to be asleep at the wheel.

[diane in sf]

22. The upside of renting, I'm only 125 feet above sea level, I wouldn't buy at less than

500 feet above sea level

[Sancho]

23. I currently live about 2 miles from the beach...

I'm looking forward to waterfront property. Can't get insurance in Florida anyway. Can't sell a house in Florida anyway. Might as well enjoy the view.

[Dover]

25. BBC article: Forecast For Big Sea Level Rise

Saw these two related articles posted in LBN so thought I'd add them here.



BBC - Forecast for big sea level rise (still seems a bit conservative).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7349236.stm



Melting mountains a water 'time bomb'
From U.S. to Afghanistan, climate is changing what millions rely on

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24127215 /

[Javaman]

26. Water wings. lots and lots of water wings. nt