South Florida is at high risk for floods and more, thanks to sea levels rising
South Florida is at high risk for sea level rise and its impacts. Global warming causes sea levels to rise in two ways: Glaciers and ice sheets worldwide are melting and adding water to the ocean, and the volume of the ocean is expanding as the water warms.
Burning fossil fuels is one of the causes of global warming because it releases carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses into the atmosphere.
Consequences of this include increased intensity of storm surges, flooding, and damage to coastal areas. Over time, such floods damage roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure, reducing the value of real estate. There are regions in the world designed to withstand this, but the urban and natural landscapes of South Florida are vulnerable to this for a variety of reasons; including low elevations, lack of topographical undulations to facilitate drainage, and the surface or water table very close to the surface.
The rising of sea levels can not be stopped. Waters heating and massive losses from glaciers and ice sheets will contribute to sea level rise for decades and even centuries.
Dr. Stephen Leatherman explains sea levels rising, a number of its impacts, how South Florida is affected, and what can be done to lower the possible risks.
Data Sources:
- FEMA Flood Zone. (n.d.). GIS. Retrieved 2021, from https://gis-mdc.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/ef3bdd041b2e424695eb4dfe965966c4_0/explore?location=25.734282%2C-80.300781%2C12.00
- Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts. (n.d.). Sea Level Rise Viewer. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.coast.noaa.gov/slr/#/layer/slr/8/-8985197.8099747/2933553.6824292312/9/satellite/none/0.8/2050/interHigh/midAccretion
