Ocean levels are increasing rapidly, at least six inches higher than in 2010, and scientists warned that some parts of the States are endangered by ending up underwater.
The Gulf of Mexico tides are rising fastest
Speaking to the Washington Post, Jianjun Yin, a climate scientist at the University of Arizona, warned that the current situation is irreparable. The outlet noted that while climate change is raising sea levels globally, it is happening at a faster speed in the Gulf of Mexico.
Areas affected
The data shows that many cities in the coastal area, from Texas to North Carolina, experienced a staggering rise of six inches of sea levels compared to 14 years ago. Many assumed that hurricanes are to blame, but new data suggested that novel, gradual weather events are doing most of the damage.
Wrong disaster
Rob Young, a professor at Western Carolina University, shared that people have been preparing for the wrong disaster and explained that these small changes can have a more significant impact than hurricanes shortly. Rising ocean levels combined with storms could create havoc and deadly disasters.
Texas and South Carolina in numbers
South Carolina’s Charleston water levels increased twice as much as over the previous 30 years, and the most alarming news is that these data show a rise of seven inches since 2010. Galveston in Texas, however, beat predictions, with water levels rising 8.4 inches compared to 14 years ago.
The tides are here to stay
Yin shared that these changes were abnormal but did not expect the water to reach its previous levels. Other parts of the US and the UK could also be affected, and floods are expected to increase. High tides have flooded the area at least 141 times since 2015 and are predicted to become far more frequent.
Other areas affected
Florida’s Miami and Daytona Beach show water levels rising six inches compared to 2010. Jacksonville, also in Florida, showed an increase of 6 inches, and if this trend continues, it could affect the state’s major roads. Savannah, Georgia, levels increased by 6.7 inches, while the North Sea, near the UK, showed a significant rise in water levels.
Sitaution in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the wetlands that protect the state from storms are said to be drowning. They appear to be clogged by septic systems and could contaminate water. This led to insurance companies raising policy rates or refusing to offer any. The Louisiana situation and parts of the American South could lead to many people being cut off from medical care.
Things could get worse rapidly
Climate scientists are alarmed because not only are changes irreversible, but the situation is worsening rapidly. William Sweet, an oceanographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, predicted that tidal floods would be 15 times more frequent in 2050 than in 2020.
Fighting the burning issue
Galveston officials rolled out a $32 million project to place numerous pump stations in the upcoming years. Mayor Craig Brown said in 2023 that the future is in the pumps, adding that the island city in Texas first wants to address the situation in the Strand area. Brown said that the city will need 8 to 10 pumps in the near future.
Water is coming after us
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report found that in just 80 years, the ocean could be over 3.3 feet taller than today. Global sea levels are rising 2.5 times faster than they were in the previous century. However, the IPCC believes that we could still impact the future if greenhouse gas emissions were sharply reduced.
Flooding is going to get even costlier
The World Bank estimated that while in 2005, the average global loss due to flooding was $6 billion, by 2050, it will increase to $52 billion in socioeconomic changes. However, due to the increased speed of rising water levels in some areas, they might see damages of up to $1 trillion.
Unavoidable issue
While recent reports focused on the Gulf of Mexico, predictions for coastal cities are not looking good. Most of them will likely be affected in the upcoming decades—from New York and Amsterdam to Calcutta, Bangkok, and Tokyo. The climate crisis is worsening, and the 2021 IPCC report called it code red for humanity.
Threats to coastal life
Massive flooding could be a direct threat to humans and could wipe out coastal plants and animals, further disrupting the fragile ecosystem. Some flora are adaptable, but many species will be lost. A study published in Royal Society Open Science noted that sea turtles lay eggs on the beaches, and flooding could increase the chances of developmental problems or worse.
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Kate Smith, a self-proclaimed word nerd who relishes the power of language to inform, entertain, and inspire. Kate's passion for sharing knowledge and sparking meaningful conversations fuels her every word.