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| Change that has no end of the tunnel |
A government report from several years ago used language that also says just that: "Inundation of the state’s ports and railroads may reduce interstate access, affecting economic viability and potentially limiting imports and exports."
The thing about sea level change (SLC) is that it affects all sea ports around the world with either sea level fall (SLF) or sea level rise (SLR), or both, depending on their proximity to ice sheets (see the Series Tab at the top the post, under SEA LEVEL CHANGE and EXTINCTION, for many posts on the subject).
The Government of the state of Rhode Island indicated some years ago, the following:
Climate change has the potential to pose significant risks for Rhode Island’s water, wastewater, surface transportation, and energy infrastructures and utilities, our natural environment, and our health, welfare, and economic well-being.(Rhode Island Gov Report, Nov. 2012, emphasis added). This is not something that is isolated to any one town, port, state, nation, or lifetime.
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Historically, most of Rhode Island’s development has occurred along thecoast and rivers; therefore the potential for the damage of a large number of homes and structures is substantial. A recent study determined that there are 2,705 housing units situated less than 1 meter (3.28 feet) above the Mean High Water (MHW) elevation along the Rhode Island shoreline (Strauss et al., 2012).
It is not like a storm that eventually stops
Rhode Island’s historic coastal and riverine villages, such as Wickford and Pawtuxet, are at particular risk, consisting of older buildings being located in vulnerable coastal areas. Sea level rise and storm-related flooding have the potential to displace a significant number of residents and cause the closing of a number of businesses and institutions, either permanently or for significant periods of time.
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Sea level rise may lead to the permanent inundation of some of Rhode Island’s transportation infrastructure, including port facilities, access roads, bridges, railroad tracks, airports, bike paths, ferry terminals and drainage systems. Such permanent breaks in the transportation network may lead to isolated communities that are disconnected from the rest of society and have no access to goods, services and employment. Inundation of the state’s ports and railroads may reduce interstate access, affecting economic viability and potentially limiting imports and exports. Sea level rise may also reduce navigational clearances for the state’s bridges, additionally limiting access.
That is why the traditional reaction is unavailing (Why The Military Can't Defend Against The Invasion, Greenland & Antarctica Invade The United States, 2, 3, 4; The 1% May Face The Wrath of Sea Level Rise First, Weekend Rebel Science Excursion - 44, Why Sea Level Rise May Be The Greatest Threat To Civilization, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Great class today Dredd!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks.
It's been awhile since I travelled route 13 and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and was just wondering how long those artificial islands at the heads / tails of the tunnels have before they might fill forever?
In response to your Bay Bridge observations, I updated yesterday's Chesapeake Bay post (The Extinction of Chesapeake Bay Islands).
DeleteLike many other bridge / tunnel systems, and sea ports, the earliest vulnerabilities are at the ingress and egress points, i.e., where roads and railways to and from those facilities are in danger presently.
So, even though some of the structures are less vulnerable, their use becomes difficult due to vulnerable access systems.
The bulk of the structures that were built with modern engineering have strong basics, yet if they can't be accessed they become useless.
"Sea level rise may lead to the permanent inundation of some of Rhode Island’s transportation infrastructure, including port facilities, access roads, bridges, railroad tracks, airports, bike paths, ferry terminals and drainage systems. Such permanent breaks in the transportation network may lead to isolated communities ..." etc.
There are only so many companies that can do sea port and related work, and the costs involved greatly exceed the money available.
These are world-class predicaments never encountered by any civilization before ours.
Many thanks Dredd! I like the 'world class predicaments' phrase a lot. Made me recall the years back in MPLS / St Paul when those blizzards would put the city and citizens into a temporary coma. Eventually, they always dig their way out, but what is approaching with SLR has no real solution except acceptance of our vulnerability and inability to halt what seems to be inexorable.
ReplyDelete