New coastlines, more tsunamis
A hideously large chunk of ice in the Antarctic is poised to cave in and raise global sea levels an estimated 11 feet. How long it will take to spread evenly around the globe is difficult to say, but within several months after the glacier does fall into the sea, there will be new coastlines all over the world. It may also cause tsunamis, and speaking of which, tsunami zones will have to be recomputed.
Whatever ice on Greenland, the Antarctic or wherever there may be continental ice on the coast will be undercut or covered and more will flow into the ocean, raising the sea level further.
In 1969, the best estimate for rising sea level if all of this ice were to melt was 200 feet (61 meters). This was revised in 2002 to 220 feet (67 meters). The complete rise won’t happen very soon, but at least plan for the short term, because when the tide is at your door step, planning won’t do you a bit of good.
The Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers are on the verge of collapse and are degrading faster than expected. Start plotting the new coastline on the maps now to determine the new tsunami zones.
This is not an “if” scenario but a “when.” Human nature assures me this will be largely ignored until the stinky stuff hits the fan.
Dave Kisor
Pahoa
Suggestions to help fight climate change
Climate change is real and it is something we should worry about. The first point is the most obvious, and that is that climate change threatens people with food and water scarcity and increased flooding.
Plus, the extreme heat, increase of disease and in some cases economic loss are consequences of climate change. The World Health Organization calls climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.
Solutions include keeping fossil fuels in the ground, investing in renewable energy, and switching to sustainable transportation. Following the first and last ones would be kind of hard, but they are doable and will push us closer to a safe environment.
Sustainable transportation is probably the easiest to do in this day and age with all the new electric and hybrid vehicles becoming more recognized and a part of the norm in society. For example, the biggest electric car brand, Tesla, is now building models that are safer and longer-lasting. You might be thinking about the older models that were outrageous in price, but they’ve made the newer model more affordable with prices ranging from 30k to 50k.
Plus, the government will give you money to help you get your own electric vehicle. All-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. The credit amount will vary based on the capacity of the battery used to power the vehicle. State and/or local incentives may also apply. I hope that you learn something from these suggestions and apply them to help future generations.
Harley Miguel
Honokaa