Tag Archives: Sea Level Rise

Panel: Rising ocean levels threaten NC Outer Banks

Posted on January 18, 2010 by | Comments Off

ublished Sat, Jan 16, 2010 12:15 PM
Modified Sat, Jan 16, 2010 01:16 PM

Panel: Rising ocean levels threaten NC Outer Banks

RALEIGH, N.C. Sea levels along the North Carolina shore could rise from just over a foot to as much as 4 1/2 feet this century and possibly reshape the state’s coastline, according to a panel of scientists and engineers gathered by the state.

The panel thinks sea level rises will be small now, but could accelerate by 2100 to the point where the Outer Banks are overwhelmed and the Pamlico Sound basically turns into open ocean.

“It’s hard to think 80 to 100 years down the road, which is why it’s important to incorporate it into long-term planning and let science lead on this,” David Knight, an assistant secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, told The Charlotte Observer.

Sea levels will rise much faster in the soft sediment off the northern coast – about twice the rate levels will rise on the sand-covered rock on the southern coast near Wilmington.

The panel came up with three different estimates on how much the ocean will rise. The lowest projection of 1.3 feet assumes seas levels keep increasing at the same pace; a second projection of 3.3 feet basically lines up with an expected 3-foot rise in sea levels globally; and the highest projected increase of 4.6 feet reflects a growing trend of climate scientists who think ocean levels will rise faster than expected.

An increase in storms and stronger ocean waves will magnify the sea level increase in coastal towns, scientists said.

The panel suggested adding more sea level monitoring stations along the North Carolina coast and revising estimates of sea level rises every five years.

Burgett of USGS national Wetlands

North Carolina is ahead of most states in preparing for the ocean’s rise because it collects accurate data and has coastal scientists who are aggressively looking at the issue, said Virginia Burkett, the U.S. Geological Survey’s chief climate scientist.

Sea levels have been stable for more than 7,000 years but have risen at an accelerated rate in recent years, nearly doubling the 20th century rate between 1993 and 2003, Burkett said.

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University of Pennsylvania scientists study sea-level rise in North Carolina.

Posted on December 6, 2009 by

Scientists have been probing the connection between rising sea levels and global warming for decades. As temperatures rise, water expands and its density decreases. And warmer air is causing glaciers to melt more rapidly, further swelling the planet’s oceans. Understanding … Continue reading →

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Comments on Sea Rising

Posted on December 4, 2009 by

Y ORRIN H. PILKEY Tags: news | opinion – editorial | point of view DURHAM — Western Carolina University’s Rob Young and I have argued that seas will rise at least 3 feet in this century and that, for coastal … Continue reading →

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Climate Change Legislation: Adaptation Sees Movement in the Senate

Posted on November 4, 2009 by | Comments Off

Written by Eric Haxthausen
haxthausen_adaptationblog

Momentum is building on Capitol Hill for addressing a crucial piece of the climate change puzzle — ecosystem-based adaptation.

Why is helping nature adapt to climate change important? Because natural systems serve as the backbone of public health and the nation’s economy — everything from providing clean water and air and protecting communities from catastrophic weather-related disasters to sustaining our outdoor recreation and agricultural industries (which combined represent more than $1 trillion annually).

So in order to fully address the effects of climate change, we must help communities and natural systems become more resilient to the changes we are already seeing. We must also prepare people and nature for the changes we know will come.

Known as adaptation, this combination of management, restoration and protection strategies will help prepare places, plants, animals — and people — for climate change.

Yesterday was a good day for this vitally important piece of the climate change puzzle. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the “Natural Resources Climate Adaptation Act.” The legislation builds upon an earlier adaptation proposal that was included in the Senate’s version of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation introduced earlier this month.

 

The legislation calls for important dedicated funding for adaptation work, with approximately 5 percent of the total allowances form a climate change bill going towards job-creating conservation initiatives that safeguard wildlife and protect, restore and enhance America’s forests, grasslands, rivers, coasts, and oceans impacted by climate change.

It would also require federal, state and tribal agencies to use the best available science to develop plans and work alongside local groups and private landowners to identify and safeguard vulnerable ecosystems.

Underscoring the importance of adaptation legislation — the US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a coalition of businesses and environmental organizations (including The Nature Conservancy) that is dedicated to passing climate change legislation — has provided a report to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works calling for a commitment to funding adaptation, saying it is “a critical component to climate legislation.” USCAP cites the citing the following reasons adaptation is so critical:

  • Communities already face impacts from climate change.
  • Adaptation funding is national security funding.
  • A commitment to adaptation in legislation is a critical component to reasserting U.S. leadership in international negotiations.
  • The poorest people around the world are most at risk from climate change.
  • Ecosystems and ecosystems services upon which human and natural communities depend must be protected.

With dedicated legislation for adaptation funding now working its way through committee, provisions already included in the broader climate change and energy bill, and a new report from business and environmental leaders supporting adaptation funding, real momentum appears to be developing on Capitol Hill to ensure that people, places, plants, and animals are prepared for climate change now and in the future.

(Photo: Erika Nortemann. North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is under threat from salt water inundation due to rising seal levels caused by climate change.)

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What do a Rabbi, a Brew-pub Owner, a Mayor, an Economist, and a Reverend have in common?

Posted on November 3, 2009 by | Comments Off

http://www.cleanenergy.org/

 November 3rd, 2009  

North Carolin Coalition with Senator Kay Hagan North Carolina Coalition with Senator Kay Hagan. Left to Right: Erica Ramjohn (River City CDC), Rick Copeland (CARE Intl.), Wayne Gideons (Yaroke, USA), Senator Kay Hagan, Dr. Stephen Smith (SACE), Anne Blair (SACE), Aubrey Davis (Outer Banks Brewing Station), Toni Reale (SACE), Jennifer Rennicks (SACE). the belief that we have an economic, environmental and a moral imperative to protect our Southeastern coastal communities, natural resources and businesses from the perils of global warming.

 SACE Leads Diverse Coalition to DC to Advocate for Climate Action

 On October 21st and 22nd, SACE staff led a diverse coalition of clean energy business owners, decision makers, faith leaders and academics from coastal North Carolina and Florida to our nation’s capitol to carry a message of urgency to act on climate change.  These community leaders visited with Senators Hagan, Burr, LeMieux, Nelson as well as Congressional Representatives from Florida and North Carolina’s vulnerable coastal communities.

 The Southeast simply cannot afford to ignore climate change

 The southeastern coast is home to more than 16 million residents and the property values along our shoreline are in excess of $2.2 trillion.  We rely on our more than 2,000 miles of coastline as a primary economic driver of tourism, real estate and recreation. Yet our communities, and our unique natural and historic resources are particularly vulnerable to the threats of climate change – from rising seas to stronger storms.

 Renee Cahoon, Mayor of Nags Head, NC, along with Kelly Kirschner, Vice-Mayor and City Commissioner of Sarasota, FL, Dr. Chris Dumas a coastal economist at UNC-Wilmington and Dr. Doug Gamble an Associate Professor of Geography at UNC-Wilmington brought a wealth of knowledge to their elected officials regarding the costs of inaction on climate change.

 “The sea level rise that we’ve experienced in our community has had a direct impact on tax base loss, lower property values, municipal services and maintenance of infrastructure, so I think it’s very important that we start dealing with the issue that we can’t ignore, because we see the impact on a daily basis.” – Mayor Cahoon of Nags Head, NC Dr. Dumas shared results

from a 2007 publication that he co-authored titled Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change to North Carolina’s Coastal Resources with elected officials.  Using conservative sea level rise projections, North Carolina’s coast could lose $6 billion in coastal property values and about $230 million in reduced recreation value of NC beaches by mid-century (due to fewer beaches being available and in poor condition) if nothing is done to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

According to Swiss Re’s “Shaping Climate Resistant Development” study, which looked at the costs of climate inaction to three-Miami, FL area counties (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach), they expect annual losses from hurricane-related impacts alone (not including sea level rise) for these counties to total $30 billion by 2030 if they continue on their current haphazard path of coastal development.

Adaptation and Mitigation

The Swiss Re report looked at a  variety of adaptation options for Florida and found that nearly 40% of expected loss can be averted cost effectively and have a net economic gain, however large residual loss remains (also about 40%).   According to Swiss Re, cost-effective adaptation options that should be part of a core strategy to manage hurricane risk include beach renourishment, home improvements, vegetation management and barriers to salt-water intrusion to name a few (see report for details). The need for North Carolina to think seriously about adaptation is becoming more evident every day – a recent article in the Charlotte Observer highlights sea level rise concerns for the coast.

North Carolina’s Climate Action Advisory Group recommended 56 options (across all economic sectors) for mitigating the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to the  Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change to be adopted into policy.  Some of these recommendations have up-front costs, but would actually save more money in the long-term. For example, by making the state’s transportation sector more efficient, North Carolina can reduce GHG emissions 30-40% in 20 years and save $5 billion on a net basis.

 

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