Climate Change News - August 26, 2013

Communities Must Consider Climate Change in Post-Sandy Rebuild

On August 19, the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, led by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and authorized by a December 2012 Executive Order, released the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy. This 200-page report includes 69 policy recommendations that will impact how the region rebuilds from Hurricane Sandy as well as recommendations to improve the ability to withstand and recover from future flood-related disasters. The report serves as a model for at-risk communities, calling for streamlined assistance and examining ways to improve energy infrastructure to avoid power outages and fuel shortages while improving telecommunications in areas likely to be impacted by power failures. Many of the policies have already been adopted, such as cleaning up the New York and New Jersey shore and promoting a sea level rise modeling tool that will help builders and engineers predict where flooding could be a problem. Shaun Donovan said the strategy will “protect families, small businesses and communities across the region and the taxpayers’ investment in them, from the risks posed by sea level rise and more extreme weather events — risks that are made worse by the reality of a changing climate.”

For additional information see: The Hill , The Guardian , MSNBC

While Coastal Communities Deal With Rising Water, Prediction of More Sea-Level Rise to Come

Several recent studies conclude that sea levels could rise several feet sometime in the next few decades.  Researchers are predicting a potential fast-paced rise in sea level up to 17 feet above modern sea level.   A paper published July 28 in Nature Geoscience by Dr. Michael J. O’Leary of Curtin University in Australia compared modern climate to a warming period before the most recent ice age. This geologic period, the Eemian, was similar to current climate and may serve as a proxy for the near future climate.  By studying ancient corals off the coast of Australia, researchers found that sea levels during the Eemain were about 10 to 12 feet above modern sea levels.  They also found that at the end of this period, sea levels rose to as high as 17 feet above modern levels in as little as 1,000 years.  Other researchers have suggested this was from a rapid collapse of either the Greenland or Antarctic ice sheet.  Questions remain of how quickly this rapid sea level rise scenario could happen, with estimates ranging between 100 and 1,000 years.  Scientists from Climate Central calculated that using current greenhouse gas emissions, sea levels could rise up to 23 feet by 2100.    Coastal communities have already faced the effects of climate change, including the interrelated factors of rising seas and more intense storm surges.  Calculating sea level rise since 1788 along New York City’s Battery, researchers from Rutgers University recently found that sea levels rose 20 inches in the 230-year interval.  While hurricane strength is associated with meteorological conditions, higher sea levels intensified Hurricane Sandy’s flooding, causing extensive damage in low-lying areas like Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island.  Some residents in the Rockaways decided not to rebuild their homes after Sandy, either because they cannot afford to rebuild or they don’t want to deal with the process of rebuilding.  Long-time resident Lynn Kramberg, who decided to stay and rebuild, commented on the psychological effects of Sandy. "It was terrible, terribly difficult [ . . . ] I live with it on a daily basis, the idea that this could happen again. My husband feels like we should leave."

For additional information see: New York Times , Study , Climate Central , LA Times

Climate Change Causes Flooding in Pakistan

Currently dealing with severe flooding, Pakistani leaders are reviewing policies to reduce the effects of climate change. Severe flash floods in the region in 2010 and 2011 led to the development of these policies; however, many question the country’s ability to implement these policies to deal with future disasters, noting that Pakistan still lacks an Environmental Ministry. Many Pakistani environmentalists have noted that climate change will be the greatest challenge of the 21 century, with increasing droughts and floods that will subsequently increase poverty, hunger and displacement.  The country is currently ranked 12 on a list of climate change vulnerable countries.  Both Waheed Jamali and Mohammad Saleem, noted environmentalists, commented that a strong educational campaign is needed in Pakistan, to inform the public about natural disaster preparedness in order to minimize the damages of such disasters.  Mr. Jamali commented on the disconnect between extreme weather events and climate change, noting that “in day-to-day life, climate change is not easily distinguished from climate variability, which is happening with or without global warming factors. Thus, it is imperative to make the general public aware of climate change and its impacts in such a way that they can contribute to reduce its adverse impacts. People should be at the centre of development, and any agenda will be futile if greater public support is unavailable.”

For additional information see: Daily Times of Pakistan

Climate Crisis Is Urgent for the Pacific Islands

Australia’s Pacific Climate Change Science Program estimates sea level rise in the Solomon Islands is occurring at a rate of eight millimeters per year, nearly three times the global average. The rising water is making islands, including low-lying artificial islands, uninhabitable, forcing thousands of inhabitants to relocate. Salinisation of water resources is a major problem, impacting drinking water and crops, and locals say warmer waters have driven away fish, their major source of protein. The government is still determining where to relocate inhabitants, which is complicated by ethnic tensions over land and an influx of asylum seekers in the Pacific. Cameron Vudi, disaster risk reduction manager for the Solomon Islands Red Cross believes another solution must be found, “if we get them to adapt now, give or take we still have a few decades. But the way the sea’s been rising . . . or coastal erosion’s been happening, I don’t think we have much time.” In related news, Tony de Brum, the Minister in Assistance to the Marshall Islands President, warns that rising sea levels will create a humanitarian crisis and potentially cause 2 million refugees in the Pacific. The Marshall Islands have taken steps for urgent action on climate change, asking the Pacific Islands Forum to approve the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership. Senator de Brum believes the support of larger Pacific nations, such as Australia and New Zealand, is crucial to the success of the Declaration, “to draw attention to that fact that climate change is now, it needs the attention of the world now."

For additional information see: World News Australia , Australia News Network

Studies Say Airborne Particulates Increase Risk of Death

A study published August 2 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, finds a positive correlation between black carbon pollution levels and mortality in US cities.  A mixture of substances emitted by combustion from cars, trucks, factories and the burning of organic matter, particulate matter pollution exacerbates and contributes to respiratory illnesses. Scientists from the Johns Hopkins and Harvard Schools of Public Health and the Yale School of Forestry studied the causes of mortality between 2000 and 2005 in 72 urban areas, focusing on the relationship between the individual pollution components and the mortality rate.  The findings indicate that some forms of particulate matter are more harmful than others, leading the authors to suggest that current air pollution regulations that regulate only the amount of particulate matter are inefficient at protecting human health.  Public health officials are also concerned about the effect that climate change will have on human populations, increasing heat stroke, respiratory illness, even famine.  Dr. Linda Rudolph, of the Public Health Institute, an Oakland, California non-profit, commented on the link between climate change and public health, stating, “if we don't act urgently and dramatically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, climate change will undermine many of our other public health efforts and have many grave health consequences."

For additional information see: Environmental Health News , Study , San Francisco Gate

Bird Migrations Indicate Climate Change

Birds are considered one of the most reliable bio-indicators of climate change, traveling long distances to find new territory when current temperatures become uncomfortable. Recently, naturalists across the state of Ohio have observed that birds are changing their habitats. “Birds are shifting northward within the state on a gradual basis that’s consistent with the idea of the climate warming. And birds are staying here during the winter that formerly didn’t,” explained Kenn Kaufman, board member at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Ottawa County. Residents have noticed birds not previously found so far north. Kaufman also observed changes in birds’ nesting habitats. He said, “Golden-winged warblers used to nest in Toledo. That was on the southern end of their range, and now it’s moved northward into Michigan.”

For additional information see: Mansfield News Journal

Climate Change Is Killing Off Sea Anemones

On August 8, an article published in the journal Plos One reports that sea anemones are dying and becoming bleached due to increasing temperatures from climate change. Similar to coral bleaching, rising water temperatures cause the anemone’s symbiotic algae to die, depriving the anemone of essential nutrients.  The researchers studied 14,000 anemones worldwide and found that 4 percent of the study population had been affected by bleaching.  The rate of bleaching after five high temperature episodes varied widely between populations and was found to be between 20 to 100 percent.  They also found that seven out of ten anemone species suffer from the effects of bleaching. The slow reproductive rate of the anemone has also meant that populations have been unable to recover from the losses.  The sea anemone is home to 30 species of anemonefishes, and the die-offs have affected the delicate symbiotic relationship between algae, anemones and fish.   Dr. Ashley Frisch, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University and study co-author, commented on the economic importance of reefs to local tourism industries stating, "the future of these iconic and commercially valuable coral reef fishes is inextricably linked to the ability of host anemones to cope with rising sea temperatures associated with climate change."

For additional information see: Phys.org , Plos One

Carbon Cycle Becomes Extreme as Climate Changes

A new study published August 8 in Science found that there has been a roughly 50 percent increase in the seasonal exchange of carbon dioxide in northern ecosystems, especially boreal forests. There is a natural cycle of carbon dioxide release and uptake as plants grow and absorb carbon during the summer, and then release it in during winter and fall as they decay. Due to the changing global climate, as well as other disturbances like logging and fire, this natural seasonal carbon cycle has begun to move a much greater quantity of carbon. The study authors said their findings were evidence of widespread ecological changes in northern forests, and a large shift in the global carbon cycle. "This reinforces ground-based studies that show that substantial changes are occurring as a result of rising carbon dioxide concentrations, warming temperatures and changing land management, including the expansion of forests in some regions and the poleward migration of ecosystems," said the lead author of the study, SIO scientist Heather Graven. In related news, a recent study published August 18 in Nature Climate Change found that European forests have reached their carbon saturation point as trees are being destroyed in insect infestations, fires and extreme weather events.  After WWII, Europeans planted thousands of trees during a continent-wide effort to replenish damaged forests, but the aging trees are no longer absorbing as much carbon, and are releasing stored carbon as they die. The study concludes that the carbon saturation point of forests could be passed in 2030, unless European governments took action to rebuild forests.  The authors of the report stated, "These regrowing forests have shown to be a persistent carbon sink, projected to continue for decades, however, there are early signs of saturation. Forest policies and management strategies need revision if we want to sustain the sink."

For additional information see: LA Times , Science Daily , Science Magazine , Sydney Morning Herald , Study