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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI15062054/00001
Material Information
- Title:
- The Risk of Rising Sea Level Texas Universities Ready and Able to Help Coastal Communities Adapt
- Creator:
- Bureau of Economic Geology
- Publication Date:
- 2013-02
- Language:
- English
Notes
- Abstract:
- Although it may not be noticeable to the naked eye, the sea is rising along the Texas Gulf Coast. In fact, by 2100, much of the Texas coast will likely be under at least a foot of water, which poses a risk not only to the economic vitality of low-lying areas, but also to areas immediately beyond that are within reach of a storm surge. However, one foot of rise is considered the best-case scenario. Some models project a rise of 6 feet. Regardless of how much the Gulf rises relative to the Texas coast in the coming decades, it is clear from experience that even small increases in sea level will exacerbate coastal flooding, contaminate coastal freshwater supplies with salt water, shrink barrier islands, erode beaches, displace marshes, and magnify the impact and cost of extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tropical storms. The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy was, in fact, made worse by a foot of sea-level rise over the last century.
The Texas coast is an engine of the Texas economy. It supports a robust tourism industry built around its natural resources and is an industrial hub of state, national and global significance. Sea-level rise spells trouble not only for sensitive coastal environments but also for residents, communities, and the many vital industries and infrastructure supporting them. Other Gulf Coast states, notably Louisiana and Florida, have taken significant strides forward to study sea-level rise, and they have begun to prepare for the inevitable. Adaptation strategies have been identified and cost-benefit ratios calculated by several different communities to determine what protective measures can be implemented. Texas lags behind other states in these efforts, and remains, for the most part, unprepared.
To provide leadership on this issue, The University of Texas at Austin hosted a workshop in September 2012 to identify the current status of sea-level rise along the Texas Gulf Coast and to assess risks to the ecosystems, communities, and economy of the region. Twenty-eight scientists from six of Texas’ leading academic institutions participated in the workshop, representing the depth of expertise and capacity of the state’s university community to work collaboratively on this complex societal challenge. Representatives from the nonprofit, governmental, and private sectors also attended the workshop, signifying broad-based support from many stakeholders for participating in the planning process that must occur as coastal communities adapt to rising seas.
The following pages provide an overview of what is currently known about sea-level rise and highlight the opportunity before us. The response to sea-level rise is long-term but requires that we start planning today if we are to get ahead of the issue. Critical to this effort is additional research that must be conducted to grasp the full magnitude of the threat and to serve as the basis for adaptation to changes on the horizon.
To keep this effort moving, the university community is committed to working with entities directly affected by rising sea level including cities, counties, and regional councils of government; industries, including utilities, petrochemical companies, and commercial fisheries; seaports and airports; realtors and builders; neighborhood associations; economic development foundations; consumer groups; environmental interests; and others. The university community is eager to work to increase awareness of the risks of rising sea level and provide the research essential for planning and preparedness. ( English )
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Florida International University
- Rights Management:
- Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the user's responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.
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