beaches
Newsletter
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Coastal erosion in the Outer Banks leads to more homes collapsing into the ocean
A house in Rodanthe, North Carolina, collapsed into the ocean on Friday, highlighting the increasing threat of rising sea levels and erosion caused by climate change.
In short:
- Crashing waves from Hurricane Ernesto accelerated the collapse of an already at-risk home in Rodanthe.
- Rodanthe has lost seven homes to the ocean in the past four years due to erosion and rising sea levels.
- Officials warn that more homes may collapse as storm conditions persist along the Outer Banks.
Key quote:
"The house just sat down in the surf and floated off."
— Robert Outten, Dare County manager
Why this matters:
Rising sea levels and more intense storms are increasingly threatening coastal communities like Rodanthe. Without viable solutions, more homes and ecosystems could face severe damage.
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Credit: jiawangkun/Big Stock Photo
Citizen scientists map New Hampshire’s beaches
Citizen scientists have spent six years helping to track the changes in New Hampshire's coastline, providing crucial data on how different beaches respond to weather events.
In short:
- Volunteers monitor 15 beach stations, collecting data on elevation and sand volume to understand coastal changes.
- Training involves stringent procedures with UNH scientists to ensure accurate data collection.
- Findings help identify vulnerable beaches and foster community engagement with coastal science.
Key quote:
“Where are the beaches that need the most help to prevent the worst impacts of storms?”
— Larry Ward, one of the principal investigators of the University of New Hampshire’s Volunteer Beach Profile Monitoring Program
Why this matters:
New Hampshire’s coastline, though short, is a microcosm of broader environmental challenges. As sea levels rise and weather patterns become more erratic due to climate change, understanding how our beaches evolve is more important than ever.
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Massachusetts beachfront homeowners lose half-million-dollar sand dune to the sea
In a dramatic turn of events, a group of Salisbury, Massachusetts homeowners saw their expensive effort to protect their beachfront homes vanish within days.
In short:
- A costly sand dune, built by beachfront property owners in Salisbury, Massachusetts to guard against coastal erosion, was washed away in just 72 hours.
- Despite the dune's quick disappearance, the Salisbury Beach Citizens for Change claim it played a crucial role in preventing further damage from encroaching tides.
- The failure of the sand dune project highlights the broader issue of increasing coastal erosion, attributed to rising sea levels and more extreme weather due to climate change.
Key quote:
"Their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean gives them a source of moisture and their northern latitude also firmly places them under the powerful jet stream during much of the year."
— Jonathan Belles, digital meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Why this matters:
This incident not only illustrates the financial risks homeowners are willing to take to protect their properties but also serves as a microcosm for the larger, global challenges of rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
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Photo by Julian Bracero on Unsplash
Climate change is threatening Fire Island’s beaches—and its queer history
Fire Island’s beloved beaches, once hallowed ground for visitors and homeowners alike, are all but disappearing.
Photo by Gustavo Zambelli on Unsplash
California winter waves may be boosted by climate change, imperiling fragile coast
Winter waves along California’s shoreline may be growing in height due to the impacts of climate change — posing a potential threat to an already vulnerable coastal ecosystem, a new study has found.
Photo by Dean McQuade on Unsplash
Fiji's beaches and reefs face an uncertain future but this scientist says 'assisted evolution' can keep them alive
Victor Bonito takes the concept of working from home to new levels. The marine scientist's house overlooks his lab: the beautiful turquoise-blue waters of Fiji's Coral Coast. Coconut trees hang over milky white sand — just like a postcard — with multi-coloured tropical corals and fish as far as the eye can see.
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