the oceans of the world, for November 2014 the “average
for South Carolina, there are causes for concern. The Post
temperature for the global oceans was a record high for the
& Courier recently reported (December 25, 2014), that
month, at 1.06 °F above the 20th century average, beating the
according to NOAA, “Charleston was among 10 U. S. cities
previous record set in 1997 by 0.05 °F.” November 2014 was
with the largest increases in nuisance flooding since 1960”
the seventh consecutive month with a record warm monthly
and that the city will likely see 30 days of tidal floods per year
global ocean temperature.
by 2020.
A seemingly small but significant rise in sea level is a
Another concern reported by the National Academy of
consequence of an increase in ocean temperatures. (The
Sciences is that, while there may not be an increase in the
volume of all substances
number of hurricanes,
increases with increasing
climate warming may
temperature.) The National
increase their intensity
Academy study found that
and frequency with greater
the global sea level rise was
surges.
a bit more than 0.1 inches
As Kiawah residents we
per year. They also say these
should certainly be aware
increases are often regional,
of storm surges. Maps from
however, with the largest
the National Hurricane
occurring in the northern
Center, published in the
and western Gulf of Mexico
Island Connection in
and the mid-Atlantic. For
December 2014, show that
example, sea level rises
much of Kiawah could
are predicted to be three
be under three feet of
to four feet in the next
Tree frog, one of the most abundant amphibians on Kiawah Island. water even in a Category
100 years for Louisiana,
1 hurricane. In a Category
whereas the predictions for
5 storm, much of the
the South Carolina coast are one to two feet.
Lowcountry could be covered by nine feet of water or more.
While the 100-year sea level rise might seem modest
So, what can be done to mitigate storm damage? The 1987
Commission report discussed three approaches.
•• Armor the beach with seawalls, rip-rap, revetments, or
South Carolina
other hard erosion control devices. These could only
mitigate the damage from a small rise in sea level or from
Beach Management