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"Coastal areas will be flooded due to increasing sea levels." I don't mean to nit pick, but clarification in this context is appropriate I think. For example,

"Coastal areas will be flooded due to increasing sea levels." I don't mean to nit pick, but clarification in this context is appropriate I think. For example, I live about 500 meters from the Pacific ocean, but my house is in absolutely no danger of flooding, because we're about 100 meters above sea level, and we are at the top of a rise. There's nothing 'above' us, so no rain flooding is possible. Many costal areas will flood due to sea level rise; many more costal areas will flood even sooner due to increasing storms. But it's quite possible to live safely near the ocean.

eldaisfish 5y ago
You are indeed nitpicking and presenting a cherry picked scenario. You are the outlier. The majority of coastal settlements are on flat land or at the mouths of rivers which - surprise - are also flat and prone to flooding. There is a good reason that rocky coasts like those in Scotland or Gaspe in Quebec have such small populations. It is possible to live safely near the ocean, provided your government has the foresight to build storm barriers. At the moment, one of the only places where this is true is the Netherlands. Also, there's a more plausible reason for river basin floods - melting glaciers and upstream floods.
- Diederich 5y ago
  "... a cherry picked scenario. You are the outlier. The majority of coastal settlements are on flat land or at the mouths of rivers which - surprise - are also flat and prone to flooding." I agree. The vast majority of people who live near the ocean are at risk. I was thinking in rather privileged terms as someone able to pick and choose where to live. I chose this location, surrounded on three sides by cold Pacific water, because of the strong temperature moderating effects. Among those within a few miles of the Pacific in a radius of 50 miles from my location, at least 95% of them will be strongly affected by sea level rise and temporary surges due to strong storms. "... one of the only places where this is true is the Netherlands." For the time being. :(
wott 5y ago
Cliffs get eaten by the ocean too. Depending on the type of material and other factors, the ocean may get closer to your home by several metres each decade. It has become a problem in several places in France, where they thought they were safe because they were not low and on the sand but high and on the rock, but they are not safe any more.

eldaisfish 5y ago

You are indeed nitpicking and presenting a cherry picked scenario. You are the outlier. The majority of coastal settlements are on flat land or at the mouths of rivers which - surprise - are also flat and prone to flooding. There is a good reason that rocky coasts like those in Scotland or Gaspe in Quebec have such small populations. It is possible to live safely near the ocean, provided your government has the foresight to build storm barriers. At the moment, one of the only places where this is true is the Netherlands. Also, there's a more plausible reason for river basin floods - melting glaciers and upstream floods.

Diederich 5y ago
"... a cherry picked scenario. You are the outlier. The majority of coastal settlements are on flat land or at the mouths of rivers which - surprise - are also flat and prone to flooding." I agree. The vast majority of people who live near the ocean are at risk. I was thinking in rather privileged terms as someone able to pick and choose where to live. I chose this location, surrounded on three sides by cold Pacific water, because of the strong temperature moderating effects. Among those within a few miles of the Pacific in a radius of 50 miles from my location, at least 95% of them will be strongly affected by sea level rise and temporary surges due to strong storms. "... one of the only places where this is true is the Netherlands." For the time being. :(

wott 5y ago

Cliffs get eaten by the ocean too. Depending on the type of material and other factors, the ocean may get closer to your home by several metres each decade. It has become a problem in several places in France, where they thought they were safe because they were not low and on the sand but high and on the rock, but they are not safe any more.