Florida's Resilient Coasts
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Material Information

Title:
Florida's Resilient Coasts
Creator:
Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Climate change ( lcsh )
Florida ( lcsh )
Coastal management ( lcsh )

Notes

Scope and Content:
This draft does not include a full description of the science of climate change and coastal climate impacts, which will be fully laid out in the final report. For those who doubt the science, there are countless authorities that present the current scientific consensus. For example, at its first meeting in August 2007, the Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change was told: “…average annual temperatures [in the U.S.] will increase by 5 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. The model results indicate that the Southeast would experience greater temperature increases than the nation as a whole… with higher heat indexes of between 8 to 15 degrees…. Specific effects of increased temperatures could include reduced air quality due to ground level ozone (smog) formation, greater incidences of heat stress and related morbidity among the elderly, and increased incidence of water-borne illnesses and…toxic algal blooms…. Observed sea level rise [is] expected to be between 18 and 20 inches along Florida’s coasts by 2100 which will result in the inundation of coastal areas, increased aquifer salinity, and alteration of Florida’s estuaries. Increased temperatures will impact the species composition and range within Florida’s forests and natural areas.” A recent report from the Science Committee of the Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force -- based on scientific observation in the summer of 2007 in Greenland and the Arctic Ocean – warns: “…the recent changes occurring in the Arctic and Greenland mean that global warming and sea level rise will happen much more rapidly than had been only recently projected. Even recent model projections of future ice melt for Greenland by 2040 have already happened in 2007. Many respected scientists now see a likely sea level rise of at least 1.5 feet in the coming 50 years and a total of at least 3-5 feet by the end of the century, possibly significantly more….Miami-Dade County, like all other coastal and low-lying counties, is now facing much more challenging decisions than ever imagined.” For coastal Florida specifically, we commend the list of impacts in the South Florida Regional Planning Council’s “Climate Change Community Toolbox” (August, 2007): “Climate change will impact…our communities in many ways. The physical, economic, environmental and social aspects of our communities will change and alter the way we currently live our lives, including: • Sea level rise. • Saltwater Intrusion into coastal water wells. • Coastal properties and infrastructure will be more at risk to flooding and damage. • Beach erosion will occur at a faster rate. • The economic impacts on communities from hurricanes will be more costly. • Additional pressure on regional water supplies. • Increased stresses on drainage infrastructure. • Increase in the number, duration and intensity of urban heat waves. • Altered distribution of infectious diseases and human exposure to illness.” ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
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Host material:
Florida's Resilient Coasts

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Aggregations:
Sea Level Rise
Florida Documents Collection