83 replies to this topic

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Hello.  Thought I would periodically (once a month) post news bits related to climate change events.  If you folks think it's an effort to troll, the title of these posts clearly includes "Troll" and you can avoid reading them.  Also, much of the news will be probably be depressing, so if you don't want to be bummed out, you don't have to read.  Each post will be very short and cover only a single climate change event.

 

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies released it's latest report indicating that about 35% of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has died due to the effects of ocean warming.  Although the temperature increase has been small, about 1 degree C, it's enough to cause a specific symbiotic microbe to exit the coral and cause a condition called "bleaching".  If the microbe doesn't repopulate quickly enough when the temperature drops later in the season, the coral dies.  This is affecting the northern portions of the Reef a great deal more than the southern regions which have only a 5% death rate.  The concern is not only for the coral itself, but for the long term effects on myriad populations of native fish that rely on the Reef for habitat.  

 

In addition, the reaction from the Australian government has been to pressure the ARC Centre to suppress the news as much as possible because it could have a negative effect on Australian tourism.   

[GrumpyOldGuy]

There are a number of island nations around the globe.  One of them, the Republic of Kiribati, is located north and east of Australia along the equator.  It consists of 34 atoll, reef, and coral islands with a total population of about 103,000 people.  Earliest settlers arrived sometime between 3000 BC and 1000 BC.  Arrival of Polynesians in 450 AD and of Europeans in the 1600’s altered many aspects of cultural life in the islands, but their environment has remained relatively stable since the earliest inhabitants…until the 20th century.

 

Global warming, with its associated sea level rise, has begun to encroach on much of the nation in negative ways.  Fresh groundwater sources are becoming contaminated, the small amount of land used for agriculture is being inundated, and the utility of costal features (harbors, seawalls, stabilizing flora) is disappearing.  With its highest elevation being only 6 feet above sea level, there are predictions that the entire nation will simply disappear by 2300.

 

The Kiribati government has begun efforts to migrate the population to nearby Pacific Islands.  They’ve purchased about 5000 acres on Fiji for resettlement purposes.  So they have a plan.

 

The world should look at and study what is happening in Kiribati.  It is a micro-example of events that will be happening globally over the next few centuries.  Moving 103,000 Kiribatians from their 4000 year old home to another place will be a Herculean task.  How will the USA manage the relocation of 15 million people from south Florida as it goes underwater?   What will happen in low lying Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, and portions of India where populations are in the 10’s and 100’s of millions?  Where will these people go?  There is no plan.

 

The planet is in for some serious and expensive problems.

[The Average Joe]

 Global warming, with its associated sea level rise,

 

 

For the love of God man, let it go... The seas were rising 2-3000 years ago and will continue to do so.... until the next ice age.  Scare mongering does no good.  People will leave one habitat that is no longer viable and move someplace else. Just like the Anasazi, Mayans and hundreds of other groups of people.  Look around the middle east.  How many massive ruins of ancient civilizations are there?  Conditions changed, life became more and more difficult and they left. Why should we pay to relocate people foolish enough to build a society in a major danger zone? Same is true for LA and SF. The dangers of earthquakes are well known. Heck, one nearly leveled SF 110 years ago. New Orleans is built below sea level for pete's sake. To build or rebuild on known hazardous ground is folly.  When "tragic" NATURAL occurrences occur to these areas, it will not be unexpected, nor unprecedented. How many millions will be displaced in only a day or two? Certainly far more than will be affected with a gradual 300 year sea level (projected) rise.

 

BTW, atolls tend to grow with sea level since they are basically organic constructs. As for fresh water. There are no "wells" like a land based water source. The atolls are built upon porous underpinnings that already have salt water intrusion. Any fresh water they have comes from rainwater. That rainwater "floats" on top of the sea water in mild underground bowls called freshwater lenses. The only ways that lens disappears is if more fresh water is taken out than replaced by rain, OR if  rainfall lessens. Sea level rise has no bearing on the storage.  The science behind it is pretty simple.

 

If you choose to live in an area that is prone to flooding, volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquake, landslide and fire, YOU are responsible for that decision and any consequences that you must deal with. And no, man is not responsible for the natural rise of oceans and temperatures.

[2 Aces]

Joe, he only does this to yank your chain. It's been going on for months now. He's trollish.

He is strange, but the fact that you take the bait is odd.

[4thgenFolsomite]

The Dutch are now in the process of relocating houses too.  There are big unprecedented and devastating changes coming.

[Chris]

The Dutch are now in the process of relocating houses too.  There are big unprecedented and devastating changes coming.

Ha....!  So funny...!   I wonder how the first Americans felt about those many land bridges at many times in the past between Asia and North America, so long ago when they began to populate the Americas...? Or resurect Leonides and put him at the the Hot Gates today and ask him to find the Ocean that was just there in 480 BC....?   You "chicken little's" have failed to educate yourselves in history, and it shows. Chris

[4thgenFolsomite]

Ha....!  So funny...!   I wonder how the first Americans felt about those many land bridges at many times in the past between Asia and North America, so long ago when they began to populate the Americas...? Or resurect Leonides and put him at the the Hot Gates today and ask him to find the Ocean that was just there in 480 BC....?   You "chicken little's" have failed to educate yourselves in history, and it shows. Chris

The point is this, the world as we know it and have plotted out as our geo-political world around is changing rapidly because the climate is changing unexpectedly. There are going to be huge consequences with habitable areas and infrastructure loss. You can deny all you like, but it's not going to stop. We have the luxury of pretending it isn't happening because it isnt directly impacting us....yet.

[Chris]

The point is this, the world as we know it and have plotted out as our geo-political world around is changing rapidly because the climate is changing unexpectedly. There are going to be huge consequences with habitable areas and infrastructure loss. You can deny all you like, but it's not going to stop. We have the luxury of pretending it isn't happening because it isnt directly impacting us....yet.

Not denying anything.....  Just not worried at all.  This has always happened, always will.  It's natural, it's healthy for the Earth, continual renewal and change, climate, mountains, rivers, move, change, are destroyed, are created.  I drove from Folsom to Vacaville today.  Flat, dusty, and dry it was...    Used to be a great big lake....!  I'd a been 50 feet under water a very long time ago....   People will adapt and move.  For every loss of land, sea, or lake another pops up somewhere else and creates a new habitat or a better, longer growing period for crops somewhere else.  You AGW fan boys worry way too much. Sit back, relax, have a beer, and enjoy Mother Earth doing her thing.  You can't do a thing about it.   Chris

[4thgenFolsomite]

If I thought it was a natural process, I would agree. But I believe the science that our actions are causing this. I do agree there is little I can do about it, but I do think that collective awareness is the only thing that is going to pressure government to make changes that will eventually cause China, India and other gross polluters to make changes in how they develop and use energy. So, yeah, I'm not wringing my hands over it daily, but I see that changes are happening that will make the next few generations live in a damaged and challenging world.

[caligirlz]

Troll news??? bias much? 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Some good news this time…

 

To respond to the challenges of climate change, in 2002 California established the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) that outlined ambitious goals for public utilities to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable resources (wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biomass).  By 2009, California utilities were generating 20.8% of the state’s energy requirements from these sources. 

 

Through a series of legislative steps, the current goals for RPS are 33% renewable generation by 2020, and 50% by 2030.

 

So, how are we doing?  The California Independent System Operator (ISO), which manages the state’s largest power grid, reported that on July 8th of this year, they delivered a total of 39,000 megawatts of electrical energy, of which 11,700 megawatts came from renewable resources.  This was 30% of the total, so ISO is already close to meeting the 2020 goals.

 

SMUD, our own utility, has embraced the move to renewables and is leading the industry nation-wide in that direction.  In 2010, SMUD was getting 24% of its energy from renewables, and is on course to be at 37% by 2020, well ahead of RPS goals.

 

In the last 2 years, PG&E has opened two of the largest solar generating facilities in the world.  Combined, they produce 600 megawatts of electricity.  And they will be adding another 250 megawatts to the Topaz Solar Farm near San Luis Obispo over the next year. 

 

Sean Gallagher, VP for the Solar Energy Industries Association, said, “California currently represents about half of the nation’s solar industry in megawatts produced.”

 

Someone once said, “When California sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold”.  This certainly seems to have been true for many technical advances over the last 100 years.  We Californians are fortunate because we get to live on the leading edge of technology…technologies that have changed, and will change the world.   Take a little pride…

[Chris]

Cool stuff...!  Love my solar panels and my SMUD bill.   But a lump of coal in the stocking on Christmas morning is just so much fun....!    I still have three big chunks that I have been giving my kids over and over again across the years.......   So, in a sense my bits of coal are "renewable" you might say.   They do tend to chip and fall apart though, one must be careful.   At least the chunks I have, probably the "bituminous" variety I'd say..........   Chris

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Established in 1911, Ft. Lauderdale, FL has become a focal point to witness the effects of global warming and rising sea level.  Over the last 20 years, tidal flooding has slowly encroached into ocean-side neighborhoods, storm drain systems, city streets, and front yards of very expensive residential and commercial property.  Many parts of the city experience some degree of tidal flooding 2 to 4 times a month, with a forecast of increasing frequency moving forward.

 

The state of Florida has not provided much assistance to Ft. Lauderdale.  In fact, it appears the state is stepping back from any climate change issues.  Rick Scott, the governor, has eliminated nearly all of the state's climate programs and banned state government employees from using climate-related words and terminology in official business.

 

The city is trying to react to citizen demands for something to be done.  They are currently installing one-way valves on all storm drain lines that empty into the ocean ($25k ea).  City employees spend days deploying tiger dams (plastic tubes filled with water), building sandbag walls, and manually plugging dozens of individual storm drains to keep the water back.  The city has even posted “No Wake” signage along flooded streets warning drivers to slow down so they don’t push waves through cracks under front doors.

 

 

What does the future hold for Ft. Lauderdale?  City and business leaders are quietly expressing concern that at some point, people will acknowledge the future and the real estate market will collapse with devastating losses ($4.1B of residential real estate will at risk in just a few years). The only speculation is what event will push it over the inevitable edge.  Will it be the inability of the city to hold back the flooding?  Will it be the rising costs of flood insurance (expected to increase from the current $2500/yr to an estimated $30,000/yr)?  Or will it be a major hurricane from which residents will simply decide to not rebuild?

 

Some are offering solutions that range from credible to crazy: 
- Build dykes around the city similar to Amsterdam.
- Raise homes onto stilts so they are 10 ft off the ground.
- Convert at-risk neighborhoods to houseboat docks.
- Install a massive pumping system to return water to the sea.

 

A recent newsletter from the local Florida branch of the National Association of Realtors even suggested the following:  “One third of Americans don’t believe that global warming is real.  Perhaps we should target our marketing efforts toward those people.”  

 

Finally, consider that there are 56 other communities on the eastern seaboard and gulf coast that are facing a similar situation.  The first casualty will be the real estate owners in the affected areas.  The second casualty will be the banks.  As demonstrated during the 2008 financial meltdown, most affected home owners will simply walk away from their mortgage obligations and the banks will be left holding the (wet) bag.  And who will bail out the banks?  Just like 2008, taxpayers will...YOU!  This will become a slow-motion national disaster.  

[2 Aces]

Oh be quiet, Mr. Paranoid. Why are you spouting your GW hysteria here? Shouldn't you be on an East Coast forum since you're so *concerned* about Florida, etc?

You keep pushing the same old sky-is-falling crapola.

Are you bored? No other life experiences to discuss? What a shallow life.

Are you married to Maestro?

 

 

[The Average Joe]

So your position is that 1.5 inches of sea level rise in the past 20 years is the cause of massive inundation?  Um, Ok.  Perhaps a more likely cause would be vast overdevelopment in flood prone areas. Many of the flooding episodes are rain related, not sea level. Could it be that poorly designed drainage in a city 9 feet ASL could contribute? Could it be that the 9 inches of rain a month during the summer months contribute? After all. eith a flat geography, rainwater is mighty slow to drain (see various Sacramento area floods) Could it be the 165 miles of canals in the city are not properly designed or maintained?  Could it be that you shouldn't build a city in a hazard zone and then complain about the hazard?