coastal vulnerabilities
Newsletter
New England battered by fourth storm since December
An intense storm caused significant flooding along New England's coastline, marking the fourth such event since December.
- Coastal New Hampshire and southern Maine faced significant flooding due to high ocean surges, with areas like Hampton and Portland heavily impacted.
- The storm caused widespread coastal flooding from Massachusetts to Georgia, with damage extending as far south as Charleston, S.C., and included heavy rains and snow in the interior Northeast.
- This series of storms, intensified by climate change, heralds an increasing frequency of coastal flooding in the region.
Key fact:
The sea level has risen more than a foot in the Northeast United States since 1900 and is rising faster there than the global average.
Why this matters:
The repetitive and severe weather events in New England highlight the tangible consequences of climate change, emphasizing the urgency for environmental awareness and policy action to mitigate impacts on health, safety, and infrastructure. Will our shared misery help to bring us together on climate action?
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Newsletter
Louisiana's coastal wetlands face critical threat from rising sea levels
A recent study highlights the perilous state of Louisiana's coastal wetlands, with a majority facing "drowning" due to unprecedented sea level rise, posing significant risks to the region's natural defenses and ecosystem.
Brady Dennis and Chris Mooney report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Scientists have found that 87% of Louisiana's coastal wetlands are unable to keep pace with rapidly rising sea levels, significantly impacting their survival.
- The state has already lost more than 2,000 square miles of wetland since 1932, exacerbating vulnerability to hurricanes and storm surges.
- Efforts to restore coastal wetlands through extensive and costly projects are underway, but the natural progression of sea level rise presents a daunting challenge.
Key quote:
“The Earth is mostly ocean, and it’s becoming more ocean. That’s the bottom line.”
— Adam Langley, wetlands researcher and biology professor at Villanova University
Why this matters:
Louisiana's wetlands are crucial for protecting against storms, filtering pollutants, and supporting wildlife. Future sea level rise is notoriously difficult to predict, with myriad interconnected variables at play.
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Top Story
The East Coast's slow descent into the ocean intensifies threats from sea level rise
A recent study highlights the increasing peril to coastal communities from land subsidence and sea level rise, exacerbated by groundwater depletion.
Mira Rojanasakul and Marco Hernandez report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Satellite research by Virginia Tech and the U.S. Geological Survey emphasizes an urgent need to address coastal threats, with nearly 40% of Americans living in vulnerable areas.
- Groundwater overuse is pinpointed as a significant factor for the sinking land, aggravating the impact of global sea level rise.
- The study identifies "distortion hotspots" in areas like Cape Canaveral and the Delmarva Peninsula, where land movement threatens infrastructure.
Key quote:
“You have a hazard that is becoming worse every day with sea level rise.”
— Leonard Ohenhen, Ph.D. candidate at Virginia Tech.
Why this matters:
The slow encroachment of the sea, coupled with sinking land, poses a silent but escalating threat to infrastructure, homes, and emergency routes along the East Coast. Vulnerable populations with nowhere to go are likely to suffer the most.
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The Marshall Islands aren’t giving in to sea level rise
The precariously placed island nation has put together a comprehensive—if expensive—plan to survive sea level rise.
Newsletter
Biden administration reportedly pauses approval of ‘carbon mega bomb’ gas export hub
Calcasieu Pass 2, positioned near the rapidly eroding Louisiana shoreline, would be the biggest such export terminal in the US.
Maine officials, climate council agree building resilience to extreme weather a top priority
Gov. Janet Mills called a special meeting of the climate council to discuss the coastal flooding and other devastation from the trio of recent storms.
Craig Pittman: In the Florida Keys, a fight over adding more residents to evacuate
One hurricane can turn this island paradise into a dystopian nightmare.
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