Sea Level Rise Effect Flashcards
What is a ‘3 pronged assault’?
When the:
- river run-off is made heavier by more frequent storms
- heavy rainfall saturates the soil from above
- waves are attacking the base of the cliff, eroding it and the beach
Where do rivers always end up?
In the sea
Why is the UK an island?
Due to the rising sea levels that split us off Europe
What is furthering from equilibrium?
Showing a positive feedback loop
Global sea level rise
The global sea levels has been gradually rising over the past century and is projected to continue rising at a faster rate in the future as a result of man-made global warming
Reasons for sea level rise
Two main reasons:
1) Thermal expansion - as water gets warmer, it expands
2) Melting ice on land, adding fresh water to seas
This creates a positive feedback loop
Positive feeback loop
Endless Cycle
Negative feeback loop
Has an end to sequence of events
Sea level rise statistics
It is currently rising at about 0.3cm per year, having a devastating effect on the vulnerable low-lying areas.
What does sea levels has rise cause?
- Coastal Flooding
- Habitat Loss
- Salinity Change
- Erosion and Deposition
Coastal Flooding
High tides move storm surface higher, and further inland. Extreme events will be more frequent; 100-year floods could become 10-year floods.
Draw costal flooding
N/a
Habitat Loss
Rising seas reduce the size of mudflats, marshes and intertidal habitats. If there is no upland area available for migration, these habitats will be lost as sea level rises.
Draw the habitat loss
N/a
Salinity Change
Higher sea levels cause higher ground water levels. This increase in salinity harms wells, septic systems and vegetation, which reduces soil stability and water quality.
Draw salinity change
N/a
Erosion and Deposition
Higher waters move shoreline materials and sediments. Depending on the shoreline conditions, this causes land to erode or grow.
Draw erosion and deposition
N/a
State some areas that are vulnerable to sea level rise
- Miami
- New Orleans
- Venice
- East Anglia
- Netherlands
- Nile
- Maldives
- Singapore
- Southern Bangladesh
- Vietnam
- Philipines
Typhoon
Tropical Storm in Asia
Cyclone
Tropical Storm in the Southern Ocean
Hurricane
Tropical Storm in the Atlantic Ocean
Delta
Low-lying sediment build-up, where land meets the sea (eg. Nile arcuate Delta, Mississipi bird’s feet delta)
China’s Sponge City
China’s Sponge City is a project that uses green spaces and permeable surfaces to absorb and reuse rainwater, reducing flooding and improving water supply. 80% of urban land can about 70% of storm water, as 641 out of 654 cities are regularly flooded with water in China.
