The effects of sea level rise are profound throughout the western coastal zone as it is low-lying and the coastal lands are subsiding (Karim and Mimura 2008) . Coastal wetlands such as salt marshes and mangroves will decrease in number unless they have a sufficient sediment supply to keep pace with Sea Level Rise. These physical impacts, in turn, have both direct and indirect socioeconomic implications, which appear to be immensely negative (Cazenave and Nicholls 2010).For example, based on national studies, a 1 m rise could cause losses of about 9.5 million tons of rice in Bangladesh (Mimura and Nicholls 2008). Rice is the staple crop of half of world’s population and it is the most major staple sustenance for Bangladesh. Sea level Rise will result in a food crisis in some regions of Bangladesh especially southern sub-regions as these areas are most vulnerable to flooding due to sea level rise; hence, rice production will be unsuitable (Karim 2014).
A preliminary analysis of the sea level of Bangladesh was done to examine the one-metre rise in sea level (Huq et al.1995). Huq and colleagues (1995) conducted a study that included data on topological maps, tidal tales, satellite images, aerial photos, and hydrographic maps. Thematic maps were used to estimate the effect of a one-meter sea-level rise on agriculture, population, and infrastructure. Locations experiencing subsidence included the Chalan Beel, Dhaka Depression, and the Khulna Sundarbans area with
The cultivation of rice has had an enormous impact on the natural biome. Rice has affected the natural biome that it is grown in, in a devastating way. It has caused the natural biomes to deteriorate and caused the natural way of life to collapse leaving no place for the native animals and plants. But what would happen if the cultivation of rice stopped and the natural biomes returned to their former glory? What would happen to all those people depending on rice for the next meal? Those who depend on rice to pay for and keep their families alive? This report looks at the where, effects, who and how of rice cultivation.
Apart from that, when it comes to economy of those two regions, they both struggle with serious poverty. Since the rise of sea level can usually quickly envelope the densely polluted land of New Orleans and Bangladesh, they have to face serious storms and hurricanes. New Orleans' location is lower than the sea level, so local government has focused on enhancing the city to be "better prepared for rising sea levels, stronger storms, and changes in precipitation patterns", in order to increase its adaptability to climate change. Similar measurement was adopted by Bangladesh, while Bangladesh is working on building infrastructures for sanitation drinking water, and its improving its emergency response plans. Further, Bangladesh has mainly focused on education and funding its poor, local communities, in order to reduce poverty, and hence enhance its adaptability of climate change; New Orleans keeps working on reservation of its
Besides the direct effect of sea level rise, coastal flooding may also be a more prevalent and severe issue. For example, “sea level rise of two feet, without any changes in storms, would more than triple the frequency of dangerous coastal flooding throughout most of the Northeast” (Horton 374). The higher seas would increase the initial level, so that the flooding level would be much greater, especially during hurricanes. Recent hurricanes have become a good example of how much damage can occur to both humans and animals. For example, much of the coastal infrastructure is in danger of damage, which can affect commerce and the public’s health and safety: “In New York State, two feet of sea level rise is estimated...To flood or render unusable 212 miles of road, 77 miles of rail, 3,647 acres of airport facilities, and 539 acres of runways” (Horton 379). This loss of infrastructure may occur in every coastal Northeast state, especially in the south. In these southern Northeast states, the land is flat, which makes them easier to inundate with water. In addition to infrastructure, transportation is also at risk, with much of the major highways (I-95) and trains (Amtrak) at risk of coastal damage (Horton 380). More affected by sea level rise, ecosystems near water may be permanently damaged in upcoming years, and according to Rob Deconto, a climate scientist at University of
When the sea level rises, this can be due to multiple factors including climate change and subsidence. Climate change and warming reports identify that “postglacial temperature has increased 13°F in the Gulf region” (Morton 22). This is important evidence because rising temperatures coincide with rising sea levels. As sea water warms, it expands and takes up more room causing sea levels to rise. Additionally, melting glacial ice cause the rise of sea level and is due to climate warming as
Sea level has risen 3.4 mm per year due to climate change. This can have devastating effects on humans, plants and animals, and their habitats. Climate change has become a colossal problem considering it can leave countless humans stranded or starving, that are in need of assistance. It has also caused distrust or rifts between countries over who caused it and whose responsibility it is to pay for the damages it has caused. The economy of places on earth will be suspected to plummet as a result of rising sea levels and temperatures provoking animals to relocate and countries to lose their major exports, or suffer from the increase in prices for their imported goods. The U.N. believes that this is problem is in need of a solution. The world
The Sea Level has increased over the past 200 years as average global temperatures have increased. The rise is due to two factors, the freshwater being added to the oceans from ice melt in the cryosphere, and the thermal expansion of the oceans due to rises in sea temperature. The sea level has risen 6 to 8 inches in the past 100 years. It is predicted to rise another 50 to 90 centimeters in the next century. As the sea level rises it’s jeopardizing rapidly growing coastal communities, which causes evacuation in some areas causing people to lose their homes. Sea level is the effect
The combination of these and other trends was an estimated average sea-level increase of 1.5mm per year between 1961 and 2003, which reached 2.4mm per year in the decade from 1993 to 2003. The decades prior to this trend showed only minor fluctuations in sea-level, suggesting that the current rate exceeds what could be caused by natural cycles. While the exact impact of rising oceans is difficult to determine, it is certain that the consequences will include some degree of flooding, integration of salt water into water tables, and a loss of land due to coastal erosion and submersion.6
Climate change is occurring and the impacts are already being felt in many regions. Studies conducted are typically done at the global, national or state level. The need to assess the threat associated with sea level rise at local level is important because local governments and private citizens are likely to be the first to deal with this potential problem.
What humanity faces from the ramifications of this issue is immense. This research article will seek to convey and articulate if climate change has affected the rise of ocean levels, and if so what are the detrimental affects on coastal communities. This article will also reveal what specific regions and events that are happening that are elevating ocean level rise. The objective of this research article is to inform people about the plight that humanity has found itself in and how to prevent ecological damage and along with that prepare for the coming tide.
The small island country of Maldives is being affected by sea level rises due to climate change. Being half a meter from sea level makes the Maldives a vulnerable country to climate change (Gwynne). They are low-lying countries who are slowly being affected by rising sea-levels. (Jaschik). Too much water coming into the shore at once is bringing the Maldives underwater. If the sea level rises to 1 m then there will be 79% less chance of getting groundwater (Iftikhar). Odd rainfall patterns are causing some dryness and shortage for the people. There has also been some recent contamination that makes the water more difficult to drink. In the article “Small States…” it claims “climate change is ultimately a matter of life and death” (Jaschik). When sea levels rises to the point of taking over,
Sea levels are rising all over our planet although coastal regions suffer from it the most. Already, more than 90 coastal communities in the United States are battling chronic flooding, meaning the kind of flooding that’s so unmanageable it prompts people to move away. That number is expected to roughly double to more than 170 communities in less than 20 years. In the 1990s is when this problem was taken into consideration, although by this time sea levels had raised 20 cm over the years.
Human-caused rise in sea levels is occurring all over the globe. Large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast have experienced considerably higher frequencies of relative increases in sea level than the worldwide average over the past half-century, with the local variations essentially because of land subsistence (USGCRP, 2009). On the other hand, parts of the coast in Alaska and the Northwest have experienced a minor fall in the sea level due to a continuing uplift resulting from melting of glaciers and other geology-related processes.
Many of these people are in developing countries that are ill equipped to deal with the problem (monaghan). When the water levels rise, all of these people will be forced to relocate as their whole cities, towns, and homes go underwater due to climate change in Antarctica. In places like Florida, Bangladesh, and other low-lying areas, even modest increases in sea levels—the kind possible before the beginning of the next century—would have dire, civilization-changing consequences (monaghan). According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), sea levels have been rising about three millimeters per year since 1993 – totaling a 200 millimeter increase (7.87 inches) in global averaged sea level since 1870. This is a threat to many lives all over the world and is fast approaching us. Glaciers also contain billions of gallons of freshwater, meaning a rapid melt could mess with the salinity of the ocean. Since our salty ocean absorbs much of the carbon dioxide we pump into the air, that’s not the best scenario for global warming (Atkin). Global warming will continue to get worse if we do not change our ways now.
A. Rising sea levels could flood many South Seas islands and swamp large parts of Southeast Asia.
Bangladesh is one of the largest deltas in the world which is highly Penetrable to Natural Disasters because of its Geographical location, Flat and low-lying landscape, Poverty, Population density, Illiteracy, Lack of Institutional setup etc. Similarly the Physical, Social as well as Economic states of Bangladesh are very typical to any of the most Penetrable countries to Natural Disasters in the world . The total land area is 147,570 sq. km. consists mostly of Floodplains (almost 80%) leaving major part of the country (with the exception of the north-western highlands) prone to flooding in the rainy season. Moreover, the adverse affects of Climate Change – especially High Temperature, Cyclones and Sea-level Rise, Storm Surges, Salinity Intrusion, Heavy Monsoon Downpours etc. has aggravated the overall Economic Development scenario of the country to a great extent.