Effects of Sea Level Rises
July 30, 2011 | Nature
Any low lying area or flat coastal plain is vulnerable to the effects of sea level rises. With climate change seemingly being upon us, for whatever reason, there are certain areas which are already suffering from land loss due to increased sea levels.
Certain small, low lying Pacific islands are already experiencing tidal encroachment onto their land, and one can conjecture as to what becomes of their nationality if their homeland has to be completely abandoned.
It is currently estimated that sea levels increased globally by about 6 inches during the 20th century, and with the anticipated increase in global temperatures resulting in glacier and ice cap melting, it is difficult to see how further rises in sea level can be avoided.
Land Loss. Areas which are particularly exposed to sea level rises are of course the coastal marshes. These areas provide a home for many wild life creatures, and are a source of livelihood for local communities. These mangrove and wetland locations will be the first to feel the effects of seal level rises.
Storms and Floods. If the sea level is higher, then the effect of storms creating floods in coastal areas will increase, for the very simple reason that the waves whipped by the storm will be acting from a higher water base than previous. If shore lines and dunes have been engulfed by sea levels rising then more inland communities will be exposed to the effects of storms and floods.
Water Supplies. With any rise in sea level, and the subsequent intrusion of salt water, there is a high probability of the local ground waters becoming contaminated with salt and turning saline. As sea levels continued to rise, the sea would tend to travel up stream against the natural flow of rivers and streams. This too would lead to contamination of what previously were supplies of fresh water.
The exact effect that sea level rises would have on local ground water supplies is not yet fully researched, but some negative effect is inevitable if the increase in sea level is sufficiently high.