Climate change itself affects the ways that natural disasters occur and the severity levels they bring upon us. Floods are just one of the many disasters actively worsening due to climate change. As global warming continues to alter sea level and weather, more areas will become prone to flooding by nearly half just this century.
Flooding can happen from prolonged rainfall causing clogged sewers or water level rises in rivers. They can also happen due failure of a water control structures such as dams. Flooding is worsening just like other natural disasters due to climate change. Impacting millions of lives, infrastructure, and animals. In 2023, 46 billion dollars were spent in the cost of repair due to floods, and that is just in the United States. By 2050, costs are estimated to increase by a quarter to a third due to climate change.
Coastal Flooding: This happens when winds from natural disasters, such as hurricanes, push water from the ocean onto land. Rising sea levels flood dry land, eroding shorelines and causing damage to coastal infrastructure. The most recent one, in the United States, was the flooding as a result of Hurricane Nicole. This lefts dozens of homes unstable in Daytona Beach, Florida after Nicole left.
There are many types of fooding, and there are so many ways that climate change impacts them. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that climate change has influenced variables such as rainfall and snowmelt. They bring up how global warming is not the direct cause of flooding but it causes them to occur more frequently and more dangerously.
Here in Michigan we know that climate change is actively affecting us. The ice storms, the constant winter advisories, the high heat indexes over summer, and even tornados.
With the increase of climate change recently, we can expect to see floods be more common everywhere, including here in Michigan. This will be caused from longer periods of rain since there is an excess of hot air in the atmosphere. With this increase of hot air we can expect to see a heavier amount of precipitation in a short period of time.
It is scary to think about how much worse flooding may potentially get in coming years, I appreciate that you added sources with indicators that show the increase in different types of flooding. It was crazy to see some areas that had virtually no flood days on the coastal flooding map in the 1950s to having around 3 or more flood days in recent years.
ReplyDeleteI remember when my neighborhood had a flood; many basements were ruined yet this was a small instance compared to these dangerous floods you mentioned. Floods can escalate so fast so it would be terrible to see this disaster spread.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great coverage of the types of flooding and the risks it poses. It has me thinking about Nomad Century, and the irony of those living in droughts looking on at those in dangerous floods. Climate change lives in the extremes. I hopes scientists and policymakers can find a way to navigate sending freshwater across the globe in a moderate way. Flooding also is a key warning sign that mass migration is a necessity in the coming years. Mourning the loss of coastal towns and riverside cities will be a challenge, but it is becoming unsustainable to survive there.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that nearly half the world will be more prone to flooding by the end of the century really puts into perspective how widespread this issue is. Seeing how floods have impacted places like the Mississippi River and Michigan makes it clear that no region is entirely safe.
ReplyDeleteI did not realize how much money is spent on flood damage. The cost of climate change on this planet if going to be astronomical. We have to invest early on green energy to help prevent it.
ReplyDeleteI knew that floods would become more common as climate change advances, but I had no idea how expensive flood damage could be. Hopefully Michigan stays safer on floods.
ReplyDeleteReally great post! Our drain commissioner here in Kalamazoo says if Kalamazoo receives just 4 inches of rain the city can face a lot of problems in regard to flooding and damage. Especially when the rain falls at the fast rate we are seeing lately.
ReplyDeleteFlooding is such a horrible thing because that water can spread pathogenies as well, not to mention death tolls. my problem is how slow are we going to act
ReplyDeleteI like how you gave different examples of flooding and areas that have been impacted. Finding out in 2023 the US spend $46 billion on flood damages was a jaw dropping statistic, and the fact that it is only going to increase is heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteClimate change is exacerbating the frequency and severity of flooding events, impacting millions of lives and costing billions in damages, as seen in recent disasters across the United States. In Michigan, residents can expect more intense and frequent floods due to prolonged rainfall and rising temperatures, highlighting the urgent need for adaptive measures to mitigate these risks.
ReplyDeleteThe flooding that came about in NC was wild to me! the videos of streams becoming massive rivers carrying away houses were devastating. The pictures you included really show the truth, it is bad and only getting worse.
ReplyDeleteFlooding is going to become much more common, unfortunately, due to climate change and global warming. With this, we look at the rising temperatures melting more of the glaciers and causing sea levels to rise. We also have seen more moisture in the air, which causes the air to get warmer and more humidity. The flooding will only continue to get worse and continue to flood against things like tropical storms and such.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary to think about how flooding disasters are increasing at a rapid rate. It reminds me of the unexpected and fatal flooding that happened in Asheville, NC last fall due to Hurricane Helene and how these disasters have a catastrophic toll and can sometimes be unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteit is shocking to see just how much flooding damages are costing people and to see all the different types of flooding as well and the sad truth is that it is only going to get worse if climate change keeps on its current course
ReplyDeleteBack in my hometown of Three Rivers, we would have floods every year. I distinctly remember this one park that my parents used to take me to, with a beautiful view of one of the rivers. Driving past it following a heavy rain, the swings were completely submerged past the bottom of the seat. What I failed to look at as a child was the apartments near by, which were equally flooded inside. Flooding will most certainly exacerbate the existing inequalities.
ReplyDeleteWe have already seen these destructive impacts from flooding in many U.S. states, and it is saddening that so many homes and structures are being destroyed as a result. What are these families meant to do when the conditions become too extreme to where they can no longer inhabit these areas?
ReplyDeleteThe global consequences of flooding from global heating are enormous. 1/3 of Pakistan was underwater a couple of years ago. https://theglobalobservatory.org/2023/06/pakistans-flood-problem-is-supercharged-by-climate-change-the-recovery-process-will-need-to-go-beyond-damage-control/ 24,000 people died in Libya from the flood caused by a collapsing dam after climate change caused rainfall. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derna_dam_collapses
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this Dr. Webb. This is incredibly heartbreakin.
DeleteIt is so scary the amount of flooding that we see today and the increased amount that we will see in the coming future. I am scared for the people that live closer to the oceans and what this might mean for their quality of life.
ReplyDelete