Hurricanes like Francine are more dangerous as the Gulf Coast sinks

Hurricane Francine slammed southern Louisiana with 100 mph winds and an intense storm surge, made worse by climate change and subsidence along the Gulf Coast.

Matt Simon reports for Grist.


In short:

  • Hurricane Francine struck Louisiana as a Category 2 storm, pushing a massive storm surge inland.
  • Rising sea levels from climate change and subsidence make future hurricanes more dangerous.
  • Scientists found some areas of the Gulf Coast are sinking by more than half an inch annually, exacerbating storm surge risks.

Key quote:

“Once that land surface is lost...that actually loses some of the protective barriers, so the storm surge can move further inland.”

— Ann Jingyi Chen, geophysicist at the University of Texas at Austin

Why this matters:

As subsidence and rising sea levels worsen, Gulf Coast communities face higher risks of flooding and storm surges during hurricanes. Better planning and data collection are critical to mitigate future damage.

Related: LISTEN: Robbie Parks on why hurricanes are getting deadlier

A mining pit with brown dirt and trucks with a forested hill in the background

Lithium mining leaves severe impacts in Chile, but new methods exist

A new report on the impact of lithium mining in South America’s lithium triangle has found that methods used by companies in the rush to extract the mineral in Chile’s Salar de Atacama has led to an “irreversible” and “unrecoverable” loss of water.

a van with a bunch of vegetables in the trunk

Reimagining agriculture to feed a growing population without fueling climate collapse

As global demand for food surges, journalist Michael Grunwald examines whether new technologies and smarter land use can prevent agriculture from further accelerating climate change.

An aerial view of a city street with green trees

Tiny forests: The overlooked benefits of these miniature urban woodlands

Grown using the Miyawaki method, fast-growing miniature forests in the middle of cities can bring surprisingly big benefits for people and the environment.
Two men in yellow safety vests cleaning off a rooftop solar panel

Trump EPA cancels $250 million solar grant to Texas

Texas’ Solar for All program was intended to bring solar panels and batteries to low-income neighborhoods and create jobs by training workers to install the technology.
a yellow school bus driving down a street

Schools scramble to keep clean energy plans alive as federal tax credits disappear

Thousands of schools nationwide are rushing to salvage solar, wind, and electric bus projects after the Trump administration’s new law phases out key clean energy tax credits.

Airborne dolphin leaping against ocean backdrop
Photo by Pagie Page on Unsplash

‘We’ve done it before’: how not to lose hope in the fight against ecological disaster

Some days it can feel as if climate catastrophe is inevitable. But history is full of cases – such as the banning of whaling and CFCs – that show humanity can come together to avert disaster.

Pair of rubber boots sitting in between rows of crops in a field

As farm flooding increases, federal climate support evaporates

Federal staffing cuts, rescinded climate-focused conservation funds, and misaligned crop insurance are undermining farmers as extreme rainfall and flooding worsen across farm country. The shift is delaying on-the-ground help, sidelining resilience practices, and squeezing especially small, diversified operations.

From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.