Sea-level rise along the Atlantic Coast of the United States was 2 millimeters faster in the 20th century than at any time in the past 4,000 years. Land in this area is being lost because of the huge weight of the melting ice sheets during the last glacial period. The coast-lines of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland are sinking twice as fast as areas north and south of these locations. The subsiding of the coast-line increases sea level rise and eventually will lead to shoreline erosion and a loss of wetlands. This causes a huge threat to coastal populations.
"Researchers have come to a universal agreement that sea level will rise as a result of global warming but by how much, when and where it will have the most effect is unclear" said Ben Horton, assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Penn.
National Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) have shown that coastal businesses, homes, wildlife habitat, transportation systems, and some of our states most treasured places are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise. The 20 communities "most at risk" range from York and Kennebunkport to Jonesport and Beals. These places could suffer in the loss of up to 30% of a towns land and cause millions dollars worth of damage to property and infrastructure. If global warming continues unabated, then portions of Maine’s coastline will be forever changed.
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I think that we really need to find a way to adapt or change what we are doing. Not knowing what is going to happen is really scary. I didn't know that Maine's coast would be affected.
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures! and 30% of a towns land is a lot. It is really too bad that this is going to cause millions dollars worth of damage... we cant handle that ahah
ReplyDeleteOh no! No more Boothbay and Southport, What can be done about this crisis? If scientists don't have a good grip on what we are facing then it sounds to me like we are in trouble.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't good (not your post, the rising sea level!)! But how come Delaware, Maryland, and New Jerseys' coastline is diminishing the quickest? Why isn't the water rising in other places as well?
ReplyDeleteHow much has the sea level risen in Maine? I am curious to know how much land we have already lost. I wonder if anyone who is not actively looking at the change in sea level notices how much it has changed...Do you think people in Delaware are ever like, "Hmmm, we have an inch less beach than we did this time last year."
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy. This is directly effecting us. I live so close to the water... it's hard to think about what it will be like 20 years from now. We could loose land and property value. We may even loose our homes!
ReplyDeleteThis is scary. This needs to be stopped, but it's not like we can end global warming in a second. Who knows how much land we are going to lose in the future. Even if we are having economic struggles, the money we spent to try and stop this would be much less then the money and resources we would lose if we didn't try.
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about we should keep up the global warming if it will put this town under water. We would be doing alot of people favors, and saving many students from entering this school.
ReplyDeleteI'm moving to Colorado and living atop a mountain. Or maybe I'll just buy a boat and live on that. Either way I'll be fine, but I'm not so sure about the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteHahah you make a good point Cody. But it STILL needs to be stopped..
ReplyDeleteI also really like your picture, its really silly! but yeah not knowing what can happen really sucks for people and really for those who live on the water, LIKE US! And Cody this town does blow but not enough for me to say I wish it was under water!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily, I don't live nearly as close to the water as her but if water keeps rising many peoples property value will decrease. Boothbay along with many other coastal places will be affected greatly.
ReplyDeleteSea levels in Maine have risen about 50 cm since 1750. It may not seem like much, but as global warming worsens and ocean water expands, this will and is increasing fast. I'm not 100% sure why New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware are at so much risk than other coastlines, but I found from more than one source that the magnitude of the sea-level rise increases in a southerly direction from Maine to South Carolina.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the thought of what could happen is scary, it is life, bad things happen and with something this big at this point in time there isn't much we can do about it. I believe this is all simply a cycle and as you will see in my blog, the cycle could reverse itself within 10-20 years.
ReplyDeleteWe really need to start acting against global warming, even if it may be just a cycle as Dan says, but isn't it better to be safe than sorry?
ReplyDeleteI think that this is partly just a cycle, but we are deffinitly NOT helping! I am also interested in knowing if the water levels here have risin.
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