Rising Sea Levels June 2014 | Page 9

ISLANDS AND COAST

According to Greenpeace USA, 23% of the worlds population is located on the coasts, this creates problems due to the continuing rise in sea level as 23 of the top 25 most populated counties in the U.S. are along the coast. People are being forced to relocate and economies are being highly affected because of damage expenses as well as the destruction of coastal activities that are boost the economy. Some of these include transportation of goods, fish cultivation, offshore drilling, recreational activities and tourism (3). Coastal cities have started preparing by putting in new drain systems, improving infrastructure as well as zoning changes (10).Not only is loss of coastal zones affecting humans, but it is causing a loss of biodiversity through flooding, erosion and the pollution of water. The coast is populated with other species that rely on the coast for a home and or a source of food (3).

Similar to coastal zones, islands are going through the same problems during the rise in sea level. Islands have been adding up expenses because of damage as well as losing coastal activities, along with these problems they are facing the reality of being destructed by going fully underwater, and some have reached the point of being entirely submerged (10). Of the 33 Kiribati Islands, 2 have already gone under water and the others have been experiencing major damage as water levels continue to rise (5).

CORAL REEFS

According to National Geographic, a recent study predicted that the oceans will rise between 2.5 and 6.5 feet (0.8 and 2 meters) by 2100, enough to flood many of the cities along the U.S. East Coast. More dire estimates, including a complete meltdown of the Greenland ice sheet, push sea level rise to 23 feet (7 meters), enough to submerge London and Los Angeles(4). The facts are sobering for humans-- the mere image of a city, flooded with water, that so many people rely on for their home and work is horrifying. But what would such an event mean for the organisms that preside under the water? The answer is grim; especially for coral reefs. The single most important factor in development, growth, and flourishment of coral reefs is light because it is needed to promote photosynthesis within the coral’s symbiotic zooxanthellae(4). With the sea level rising as much as 23 feet by the time the century is complete, coral reefs will begin to decay and die. Not a single species of coral has been found to develop in waters deeper than 70 meters, and the majority of coral grows in waters less than 25 meters(4). When the sea level rises, the bottom line that light reaches also rises and leaves the coral without light. Light increases oxygen production and leads to calcium carbonate deposition which makes coral grow; therefore, when sea levels rise, coral reefs stop growing and die. Sea level rising doesn’t only affect humans that dwell on the coast, it also leads to the collapse of ecosystems like coral reefs.

LOSS OF HABITATS AND BIODIVERSITY