Coastal Flooding

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Coastal Flooding

• Within this generation's time, 150 million people
  and over 35 trillion of assets will be at risk
  due to coastal flooding caused by global warming.

2
Climate Change

• Rising sea level
• Expands ocean water
• Melts mountain glaciers
• Melts ice caps and ice sheets

3
Global Sea Level

• Has risen between 10 and 25 cm during the last
  100 years.
• IPCC estimates a 49 cm rise in the next 100
  years.
• Projected rate is at least twice the rate in the
  last century.

4
The Risks

• Vulnerable coasts
• Increased precipitation
• Destruction of property, including homes and
  businesses.
• Wildlife sites destroyed

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As frozen ground thaws, buildings are in danger
of being destabilized.
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Costs

• Many homes and businesses already need repair.
• Current spending at 650 million per year.
• By 2010, will rise to 800 million per year.
• For 1 foot rise in sea level, annual damages will
  increase by 58. For a 3 foot rise, this will
  increase by 200.

8
Taking Action

• Insurance
• Defra UK Department for environmental food and
  rural repairs.
• Policy - Flood Risk Management
• Many uncertainties of how to implement this
  policy.

9
Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets

• Accelerated melting
• Sea level rise estimated during this century
  could be twice as high as projected previously.
• Affects freshwater runoff

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The Chesapeake Bay
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Bibliography

• http//www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/08061
  2090919.htm
• http//www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_i
  mpacts/impacts/early-warning-signs-of-global-8.htm
  l
• http//www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/08021
  1172517.htm
• http//www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_category.aspx?id
  112
• http//www.nwf.org/sealevelrise/chesapeake.cfm