Your chance to be Omniscient, Wise & Forward Thinking (Page 2)

Would there really be a massive population dislocation with only a 2' rise? During hurricaines, 2 feet of storm surge has practically no effect. It seems like the only people really affected would be those folks with east coast beach front property. ANd inthe grand scheme of things, that's not a lot of people.

Well, then, honestly, what's the big deal if the water rises 2'? 

Although my house is about 12 feet above sea-level, the water table is just 12 inches below surface level.

Don't assume that water or land erosion is going to occur only at the surface level.

Florida's agriculture economy would likely be trashed (see Bangladesh's dying trees). We have Big Sugar in the southern part of the state - would we see sugar shortage? Strawberry industry would likely be trashed.

I wonder how the acquifier would be affected...

Does sea level rise equate to water table rise? I have no idea.

Where's a hydrologist when you need one? Speaking of which...where the heck is kimj81? I haven't seen her here in ages.

The island nations of Tuvalu and the Maldives would be almost completely submerged.  So, rich folks in the Hamptons and two countries.

So Survivor would have to scout different locations?

<damn...I forget that there's a whole world outside of the US sometimes>

(thewurld.jpg)

Is it a stretch to assume that salt water will contaminate the water table? There go my orange and grapefruit tree - and everything else in my yard except for the sea grape (maybe).

Besides, gradual change over 50 years gives all the animals a chance to move elsewhere, along with the people.

Also, I'm willing to bet that given 50 years, we could find new places or methods for growing sugar and strawberries. 

Does all3sports deliver to the alpha centuri system?

I wonder what the roads will be like there.....Better pack the trail shoes, just in case. 

I googled "What would sea level rise do to Florida?" and found this EPA site: http://epa.gov/climatechange/effects/coastal/index.html

Excerpt:

A two foot rise in sea level would eliminate approximately 10,000 square miles of land (including current wetlands and newly inundated dry land) (PDF, 26 pp., 267 KB, About PDF), an area equal to the combined size of Massachusetts and Delaware. (EPA, 1989)

Some of the most economically important vulnerable areas are recreational resorts on the coastal barriers of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. In many cases, the ocean-front block of these islands is 5 to 10 feet above high tide; but the bay sides are often less than two feet above high water and regularly flooded (see USGS's 7.5-minute map series). Erosion threatens the high ocean sides of these densely developed islands and is generally viewed as a more immediate problem than inundation of their low bay sides. Many ocean shores are currently eroding 1 to 4 feet per year

For the purposes of this game, lets assume that all the assumptions on this site are valid.

I'm not interested in debating whether global warming is real or not; this is about fantasy contingency planning and logistics. What would you do to best position yourself and your family? How clever and forward thinking are you?

Oh - and here's what they say about the water supply:

Rising sea level increases the salinity of both surface water and ground water through salt water intrusion. New York City, Philadelphia, and much of California’s Central Valley obtain some of their water from portions of rivers that are slightly upstream from the point where water is salty during droughts. If sea level rise pushes salty water upstream, then the existing water intakes might draw on salty water during dry periods. Salinity increases in estuaries also can harm aquatic plants and animals that do not tolerate high salinity.

Shallow coastal aquifers are also at risk (IPCC, 2001). The freshwater Everglades currently recharge Florida's Biscayne aquifer, the primary water supply to the Florida Keys. As rising water levels submerge low-lying portions of the Everglades, portions of the aquifer would become saline. Aquifers in New Jersey east of Philadelphia are recharged by fresh portions of the Delaware River which may become saline in the future.

In all of these cases, water management authorities currently prevent excessive salinity by releasing fresh water from reservoirs during droughts. One possible response to sea level rise would be to store more water during wet seasons so that more water can be released during droughts. However, other water management goals (e.g. flood prevention) may make it difficult to save extra water for the occasional drought. The impacts of climate change on local hydrology may offset or increase salinity increases due to sea level rise.

Here's something to consider: Sugar cane is harvested after burning the crops. Perhaps a militant Global Warming Warriors cult/group/PAC might arise and try to outlaw the burning of sugar crops? And to restrict the use of precious water to irrigate the thousands and thousands of sugar cane acres?

(I read too much Asimov as a kid.)

Guess I'll switch to Sweet 'n Low for my coffee.....

While we're at it, can we build a big wall around New York City, and use it as a prison?  Call me Snake.

(Sorry, Renee, I'm not making fun of you, but it reminds me of "Escape From New York"