Latest news with #coastalCommunities
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
A disaster has been unfolding on Australia's coast
A toxic algal bloom is having a devastating impact on sea life and coastal communities and scientists warn with climate change, events like these may become more frequent.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists sound alarm over massive underwater force threatening to accelerate city collapse: 'Potentially double or triple the effects'
Rising sea levels and subsiding shorelines are putting New Zealand's coastal communities at risk. A new study revealed that human activities heighten and expedite the risks of sinking cities. As Forbes reported, a group of New Zealand researchers studied how the island's cities and shorelines are sinking. This is concerning because sinking cities may be affected by rising sea levels sooner than previously anticipated. In New Zealand and globally, sea levels are rising due to our warming climate and melting ice in polar regions. Meanwhile, localized instances of human activity, such as groundwater extraction, land reclamation, and dredging, are causing coastal lands to sink. Kyoto University researcher Jesse Kearse said these activities can "potentially double or triple the effects of sea-level rise in certain places." The researchers determined that coastal infrastructure is at risk because of this sinking effect and rising sea levels. In their study, they used satellite-based mapping and radar images to assess the physical properties of surfaces and measure ground deformation. Focusing on vertical land movement at urban coastal strips between 2018 and 2021, they observed coastal strips decreasing in all of New Zealand's major population centers. Some areas are experiencing subsidence rates of over 15 millimeters per year. This revelation is significant because billions of people live near coastlines. No coastal city, in New Zealand or elsewhere, is immune to rising sea levels. With supercharged weather events becoming more common as our climate warms, people living along the coast face considerable danger. This study also stands out because it highlights humans' impacts on at-risk coastlines. The researchers noted that areas of reclaimed land in New Zealand are particularly vulnerable to the land's stability. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Land reclamation involves filling water-submerged areas with soil, rock, or other materials to create new land where water once flowed. The researchers concluded by pointing out many unanswered questions regarding subsidence rates and how long they will persist. They also warned about the risks of future development in coastal areas due to vertical land motion patterns. Research studies like this one raise public awareness about coastal community risks and the threats of rising sea levels, especially when extreme storms hit. Fortunately, governments and businesses are working on technologies to adapt and plan ahead. For example, innovators use predictive artificial intelligence and smart reefs to protect residents from floods. Architecture firms have designed floating homes as practical solutions for people living in flood-prone areas. Meanwhile, officials have developed plans to protect coastal lands by planting mangroves and adding sand piles. If you live along the coast, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your home. Preparing for hurricanes and floods is crucial, so keep a go bag packed if you need to evacuate. To prepare for future power outages, you can install solar panels or sign up for a community solar program. (Solar is also a type of clean energy. In other words, the photovoltaic panels don't generate any troublesome heat-trapping pollution when turning sunlight into power.) Hurricane-proofing your house by raising it and installing a custom seawall can help as well as reinforcing your home with durable materials to boost its resilience and give you peace of mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Exmouth interactive art trail explores life by the sea
A new interactive art trail aims to tell the stories of Devon families with a strong connection to the Voices of the Exe Trail, created by the University of Exeter's Resilience of Coastal Communities project, features 10 markers across marker tells a different story and uses audio clips accessible by scanning a QR code.A mural to celebrate the trail was designed and painted by Exmouth artist Gary "Garf" Cook on the side of The Strand Inn pub in the town. The launch event for the trail will take place from 15:00 BST at Bumble and Bee in Exmouth's Manor trail will be in place until October 2026 and it is wheelchair accessible, said organisers. Dr Louisa Evans, from the university, said: "Our coastal communities are vital for the UK's island identity but also hotspots of deprivation and at the forefront of risks from climate change."We spoke to families who represent the resilience of coastal communities, but these oral histories often get parked in a museum and forgotten."The trail was a partnership with Exe Estuary Management Partnership, Exmouth Town Council and Mindfully Wired was funded by the Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources programme. 'Amazing impact' The family of Debra Quine, who runs cafes in Exmouth, is one of those featured in the Quine said: "I've met people in my cafes who have never seen the sea before and the look on their faces and the impact it has is amazing."I'm delighted to be part of the Voice of the Exe Trail and hope these stories give people an insight into what life by the water is like."
