Sea level rise isn’t some far-off concern. For coastal Orange County and many other low-lying areas around the globe, it’s here today.
The natural protection provided by beaches that would have held back waves has thinned. There are multiple reasons for this, and sea level rise caused by climate change—which will only worsen in the future—is one of them.
Beach nourishment—the practice of hauling in sand and sediment—is possible and, in fact, was undertaken as early as the 1930s in Southern California to make the wide, sandy beaches that lured droves of visitors and created a tourism economy.
In some places, people will have to retreat from rising seas. One idea is for the state to buy out coastal property owners and then rent the property back to them as long as it’s livable. That way, property owners could cash out their investments, and the state could abandon the property when it becomes sensible.
But to make these choices, the public and policymakers need information about projected flood risks. That’s exactly what Sanders and his team produce. Their models and simulations of future flooding incorporate detailed data about ocean levels, rainfall, streamflow, topography and land cover—whether it’s asphalt, buildings, vegetation or something else. These easy-to-grasp visualizations help planners and policymakers prepare to mitigate flooding by revealing what floods might damage and destroy.
Read more:
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-coastal-solutions.html