Bursting the Bubble of Doom and Adapting to Sea Level Rise
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Material Information

Title:
Bursting the Bubble of Doom and Adapting to Sea Level Rise
Series Title:
Shoreline news from the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association
Creator:
Parkinson, Randall W.
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Climate Change ( lcsh )
Sea Level Rise ( lcsh )
Florida ( lcsh )

Notes

Summary:
Late Holocene sea level rise is now well documented to have accelerated subsequent to the Industrial Revolution (c.f. Church and White 2006) and current models suggest a rise of one meter or more by the year 2100 (c.f. Vermeer and Rahmstorf 2010). In addition, recent modeling projects a near doubling of Category 4 and 5 storm frequency by the end of the 21st century, with the largest increases to occur in the Western Atlantic (Bender and others 2010). This combination of factors substantially elevates the levels of risk or hazard potential assigned to Florida’s built and natural coastal environments. Unfortunately, the mainstream media has not properly noted the trend towards scientific consensus on these issues (c.f. Doran and Kendall 2009), but rather continues to emphasize uncertainty. Scientists are also to blame as they have not successfully countered media shortcomings. As a consequence, most Floridians have yet to seriously consider how best to adapt to sea level rise or for that matter any of the other elements of climate change. In light of these threats or perhaps to make light of them, Walton and Dean (2010) posed the rhetorical question “Should Floridians be moving to the mountains?” Of course the answer is no, but statements like these are counterproductive and encourage the business-as-usual approach of continued development in Florida’s high hazard coastal zone. ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
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