Current Observable Rise In Sea Level

As it stands today the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico is losing more and more land; the amount of land lost each year may seem relatively small to the average person, but to scientists who understand the unprecedented rate at which this is happening, there is reason to be alarmed. On the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico there are more reasons for the rising sea level than simply global warming and melting ice sheets or ice caps. In the Mississippi delta, for example, the oil industry is taking so much fluid (oil) out of the ground that the land is sinking and compacting further. There is also a decrease in the amount of sediment reaching the delta due to many man-made structures, such as levees, drudging, dikes, and

The issue is that the sea water levels are rising as a result of warming oceans caused by climate change. The burning of fossil fuels has put lots of “greenhouse gases” such as methane into our atmosphere, causing more heat to be retained on the earth from the sun and overall warming the earth. The oceans absorb about 80 percent of the excess heat. Thermal Expansion is in effect as the sea levels rise. Polar ice caps and glaciers are melting due to global warming which is adding to the rising sea level. (National Geographic, 2017)

People living in Miami are in the face of danger, and for the most part they are not aware of it. Due to high population, Miami is the fourth largest city to become affected by sea level rise. (Ankum et al.) In the next 32-50 years, sea level is expected to rise by as much as two feet. (Ankum et al.) This two-foot rise will have detrimental effects on the urban settings of Miami. The amount of soil erosion that is undergoing at our beaches will greatly increase if a two-foot rise occurs. At a four-foot rise, road connectivity would begin to become affected. At a six-foot rise, Southern Florida would no longer be habitable as it would, for the most part, be underwater. Not much is being invested in mitigation efforts, most of what is being done are short term solutions. Instead of coming up with ideas to prevent and try to slow down the effects of climate change on our environment, we are focusing on ideas such as building up a sea wall, relocating power plants, and redesigning structures.

Sea level rise caused by global warming poses clear threats to coastal populations in Connecticut. In fact, models have depicted that the rate of global sea level rise could elevate by two to five times by the end of this century, and this will affect the health of residents and the state’s economy due to increase the impacts of coastal storms in urban areas (Gornitz et al., 2004). Reports have shown that Connecticut’s coastline has historically been at risk due to coastal storms (Frumhoff et al., 2007). For instance, a 2007 synthesis report of Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA) suggested that there might be an increase in the number of winter storms received in coastal Connecticut (particularly late in the winter). Also, in the

Miami, Florida experiences a great amount of natural disasters; however, one of the largest disasters Miami fears is affects of global change. Rising global temperatures scares most environmentalist in the Miami area, because rising temperatures results in rising sea levels. So, what is the problem with rising sea levels? Well, environmental specialist has made predictions that the rising sea levels could submerge the beaches of Miami.

Jeff Goodell's book introduces an inside look at rising sea levels and their effect on our world. Goodell's book describes a journey to different cities and towns to figure out how to conform to sea levels that are continuing to rise. He travels to places like small Alaskan villages, to the city of Lagos, and returns throughout the book to Miami. Miami is one of the areas that demonstrated the challenges of trying to keep the ocean at bay. According to Goodell, because of carbon dioxide emissions, sea level rising is guaranteed. People need to help the problem by lowering the emissions of these toxic gases.

Most people wouldn’t pay any mind to care about coastal resilience and the sea-level rise in the Tidewater area of Virginia. However, they are very important to the community and its development. In the past I was one of those people as well until I knew how much the Tidewater area could be affected by an extreme weather storm or pipe malfunction. Growing up in Virginia Beach I've always questioned why the houses in Virginia didn’t have basements. Because Virginia's elevation is approximately 5,729 feet, the average elevation is 12 feet above sea level, it's considered below sea level. The Tidewater area in Virginia is known for flooding when there are rain storms or other serious weather conditions as well. This is not only because of Virginia's elevation level, but also because of the sewage and waste system.

“‘We know even relatively small amounts of sea level rise affect us,’ [Carl Spector, commissioner of Boston’s Environment Department] said. ‘All the models we’re seeing are concerning’” (Abel). Climate change, the warming and changing of the Earth’s atmosphere, has become a very prevalent issue over the past century. Despite having numerous sources in terms of hard evidence, many people still do not believe in the effects of climate change. Sea level rise is one effect of climate change that may change the minds of many because of its reality in today’s world. This issue is especially relevant in the Northeast because of several factors that further affect the sea level rise. In order to stop further effects on the Northeast, legislators must

Good morning Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for your attention on this important topic. I am Madison Myones, Mayor of New Orleans, making an assessment of sea level risk in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, where 85 percent of the residents support funding additional research into renewable energy sources (Marlon & Howe, 2017). I speak on behalf of the citizens of Orleans Parish where our unique culture and vibrant heritage are under constant threat due to the impending risk of climate change and potential sea level rise that could engulf our entire county. Already we are seeing more coastal loss in Louisiana than anywhere else in the country; I fear that if sea level rise continues to go unchecked, our county will not

Anne Arundel County is located on the coast of Maryland, and is “ almost completely surrounded by tidal and non-tidal waterways.”(pg. 1) This plan assesses the vulnerability of Anne Arundel County to sea level rise and makes recommendations improving the community’s climate resilience. It analyzes the impact sea level rise will have on the county in two scenarios, one where sea level rise is 0-2ft and one where it is 0-5ft. For instance, it identifies that 371 county archeological sites are vulnerable to 0-2ft of inundation and 422 sites are with 0-5ft of inundation. The plan notes that such sites are important cultural resources for the county and that “[o]nce they are destroyed [...] the information these sites can tell us of our past is

Decades of research suggest that sea-levels are rising, and will continue to rise as a result of climate change. This rise will have the most immediate and significant impact on

We have all heard statistics over how unmitigated global warming can lead to rising sea levels, increased temperatures, lower rates of precipitation. The Congressional Budget Office recently found that climate change, if unmitigated, would create costly damage not only to the United States’s economy, but also to the world as a whole (source). Despite a scientific and general consensus that climate change is real and a problem, actual committed action against climate change has been disappointingly slow, until recently. We also know the cause of climate change. The United States EPA finds that “Carbon dioxide accounts for most of the nation’s emissions and most of the increase since 1990” (EPA). What we don’t know is a solution.

Justin Gillis wrote a fascinating article called “Seas Are Rising at Fastest Rate in Last 28 Centuries”. The main idea in this article was to tell the readers that tidal flooding along the American coastal communities is to a great extent a repercussion of greenhouse gases from human activity, and the problem will likely become more unpleasant in the upcoming decades.

Climate change, specifically in reference to C02 Emissions released by human use of fossil fuels and their consequential effects on the environment, is perhaps one of the most pressing issues we, not just as Americans, but as human beings face in our lifetimes. Though it may sound like a sensationalist statement the facts are hard to deny. In May of 2013, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

In 2011, the U.S. released a report showing that a ocean rise of three feet would endanger 128 miliary coastal bases and cost the U.S. $100 billion in damage (Source 2). And this is not the end. By 2100 eight coastal military bases are in danger of losing 25-50% of their land to rising sea levels and four installations, including Naval Air Stations Key West, are at risk of losing 75-90% of their land (Source 4). Neither the executive branch or Congress have done anything major about these statistics that have developed because of such the divide within Congress whether climate change is real or not. This divide and the strong opinion of the president has lead to orders that are the complete opposite of what this country