40% of the world's population lives within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the coastline. UN This number is only going up as more and more people move close to the coast. This is not the only number that has increased as the ocean sea level has increased by 8-9 inches since 1880 putting many communities and cities in danger. NOAA
Why does this happen?
Melting glaciers and thermal expansion are the main culprits when it comes to sea level rising. As global temperatures increase, this cause glaciers to melt at a faster pace than normal. This causes more water to return into the sea. According to the BBC: "Between 2000 and 2023, glaciers outside the major ice-sheets of Greenland and Antarctica lost around 270 billion tonnes of ice a year on average." This is adding millions of gallons of water back into the ocean causing it to rise. Thermal expansion is also a huge contributor with water expanding when heated up. We all see this when boiling water if we leave the heat on for too long. Between these two main contributors to rising sea level we could see the oceans rise by 15 inches by the end of the 2100s. Oceanographic Institution
The impact of this:
This will displace millions of people and have a huge impact on coastlines throughout the world. Countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, the Netherlands and Pakistan will be affected the most due to their population density by the coast and their low elevations.UN Many island nations are threatened to disappear underneath the sea due to rising water. In Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands people have already started moving away due to rising waters.UN Many large cities are in danger such as New York, London, Mumbai, and Lagos. This will displace millions of people from their homes forcing them inland and making them climate refugees. Our east coast will look a lot different with Florida all the way up to Maine will be impacted. The economic effect will be catastrophic with people losing their homes and business. The effect on wildlife will also be huge with coral reef bleaching from them not getting enough sunlight. Also, many habitats will be destroyed due to the rise in sea water.
What can we do?
Reducing our carbon emission should be goal number one which would help slow down thermal expansion and melting glaciers. Help maintain and rebuild coastal wetlands as they can help absorb rising water.Indiana University Building coastal walls and defenses. (That only pushes the problem farther down the road.) These are only a few solutions to this planet-wide issue.
Millions of people will be affected by rising sea levels, but there are steps that we can take now to help reduce and limit the impact of our actions.
Coastal living has always been extremely important. It’s very sad to see the future of our coasts and all the coasts around the world being destroyed. The map of the US showing the coastal damages is worrisome.
ReplyDeleteReally important post, Joe. It’s scary how many lives and places are at risk we definitely need to act now before it’s too late.
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to move to a coastal city my whole life, and now it might not even be possible because at some point they will all be underwater.
ReplyDeleteIt's alarming to think about how many coastal cities and entire nations could be displaced. It's scary to think about how millions of people may become climate refugees in the years ahead.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary to think of all the changes that will occur with rising sea levels. This means some parts of the world will no longer be there and be underwater. Flordia has already been seen starting to sink below the sea level. Coastal homes and cities will be gone soon without any changes in human activity.
ReplyDeleteI have always heard the jokes of California falling into the ocean, but unfortunately that could be a possibility sooner than we had thought. People will have to start migrating away from these coastal areas to survive, this is a crazy time to be alive.
ReplyDeleteIt's concerning to see how much of the US is at risk of rising sea levels, especially Florida. I am surprised that despite the time, energy, and money being poured into building walls and costal defenses Ron DeSantis, Flordia's Governer, still remains a climate change denier or perhaps more surprised on how he was elected.
ReplyDeleteThe stat about 270 billion tons of ice melting per year being equal to the amount of human global consumption of water for 30 years (3 liters/day) is really depressing. But this is such a fascinating post and subsequently inspiring. Thanks Joe, nice work!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I do not think people will believe the scientists until all of the major cities along the coast are under water and the infrastructure is ruined. It saddens me to think about all of the people that will be displaced, the animals run out of their home, and the beautiful sights unenjoyable because of our actions.
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ReplyDeleteCoastal living sounds near impossible as time passes there are videos of homes near the water clasping due to sea levels rising and it's becoming more and more difficult to support lives near the coast since the boundary of the sea is becoming more and more unclear.
ReplyDeleteAs rising sea levels threaten to displace millions and devastate coastal communities worldwide, urgent action to reduce carbon emissions, restore coastal wetlands, and implement protective measures is essential to mitigate the impending impacts of climate change.
ReplyDeleteI wish our government would plan for mass migration instead of denying until it's too late. It is scary to think glaciers can thermally expand and dump its entire context into our ocean, effectively drowning entire cities.
ReplyDeleteI find the matter of sea level rise greatly yet morbidly ironic. Often, coastal and beachfront properties are occupied by the wealthy, a not insignificant amount of whom have become so wealthy by profiting off of or enabling polluting industries that contribute to climate change. They fight tooth and nail to buy up and develop any speck of land they think would make a nice condo or resort site. And now the consequences of their (in)actions are creeping up on them, with flooding and storms coming more frequently, and entire multimillion-dollar homes crumbling into the ocean as a result of increased erosion.
ReplyDeleteBut that grim satisfaction is dashed when we recall that there are many in coastal communities who will suffer that same flooding and erosion and saltwater contamination, yet be unable to afford the act of relocating their entire lives. This whole situation is a big demonstration in the matters of equity and the lack thereof.
The graph showing the exponential rate of sea level rise is alarming. People who live in coastal areas are already losing acres upon acres of land that help to protect these areas from extreme weather. The fact that this is only predicted to continue unless we phase out the use of fossil fuels is terrifying as we are not doing all that we can to stop it before too much land is lost.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of sea level rise around the ocean's coast lines is surprisingly variable. One factor is that many coastlines are sinking - for various reasons including reductions in water tables caused by human use and buildings on softer soils compacting the earth. Other sea fronts are actually still rising from the melting of enormous glaciers since the end of the ice age. Ocean currents also make a difference.
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