Florida Wildlife Corridor Eases Worst Impacts of Climate Change

Florida is projected to lose 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070. A new study highlights how Florida can buffer itself against both climate change and population pressures by conserving the remaining 8 million acres of “opportunity areas” within the Florida Wildlife Corridor (FLWC), the only designated statewide corridor in the U.S.

UTEP Researchers Make Inroads in Study of Melting Glacier

Researchers with The University of Texas at El Paso are working to understand how the Thwaites Glacier’s ice is changing and what it means for the future. By measuring physical properties of the ice and rock below it and understanding which parts of the glacier are moving quickly and why, they hope to map Thwaites’ future movement and resulting sea level rise.

‘Coastal Squeeze:’ Massive Loss of U.S. Coastline Tidal Flats Over 31 Years

The entire contiguous U.S. has experienced massive urban expansions and the Atlantic Coast shows outstandingly high rates. Urban expansion has substantially squeezed the space of tidal flats and affected surrounding environments. In new urban areas, tidal flats have undergone considerable degeneration with more significant patterns as they get closer to new urban locations. Tidal flats protect against the ocean’s destructive powers such as hurricanes. Without some inland spaces to move around, they will likely disappear, which will have dire consequences for beachfront communities.

Sea ice melt, warming ocean temperatures and emergency response: Experts discuss the return of El Niño

The University of Delaware boasts several experts who can talk about El Niño’s return and its wide-reaching impacts, from record-breaking temperatures to sea ice melt that has been shattering scientists’ expectations.  Wei-Jun Cai: Air-sea CO2 flux; carbon cycling in estuaries…

FAU Experts for the 2023 Hurricane Season

With the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season officially starting on June 1 and ending Nov. 30, several Florida Atlantic University faculty experts are available to discuss various issues surrounding hurricane preparedness, evacuation and aftermath.

FAU, Virtual Planet and City of West Palm Beach Unveil Groundbreaking Virtual Reality Experience

The multidisciplinary team created a virtual simulation of the devastation that a Category 5 hurricane and sea level rise could have on West Palm Beach. The simulation, produced with 3D technology, reveals the destruction that could occur in Osprey Park and the surrounding communities, highlighting the threat to the coastline and potential solutions for coastal areas.

FAU New Home to Award-winning Website ‘The Invading Sea’

The Invading Sea, an award-winning website featuring content on climate change in Florida, now has a new home at FAU. The Invading Sea was founded in 2018 as a collaboration among the editorial boards of the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel, with Miami-based public radio station WLRN serving as a news partner. The site will continue to be a nonpartisan source for news and opinion pieces about climate change and other environmental issues in Florida at FAU, while expanding its focus to include more educational content.

Major storm modeled to follow Fiona, possibly en route to Florida

The strongest hurricane of the Atlantic season caused death and destruction in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the Caribbean and continues to pose a threat along the eastern seaboard. But now models are predicting a storm that…

FAU Experts for the 2022 Hurricane Season

With the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season forecast to be above average activity with a higher probability of major hurricanes making landfall along the continental U.S. coastline, several FAU faculty experts are available to discuss various issues surrounding hurricane preparedness, evacuation and aftermath.

Desperate for change, island nations explore suing polluters

Facing an increasing amount of extreme weather and ever-rising sea levels, two island nations raised the possibility of claiming damages from major polluting countries through judicial means. The Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda and the Pacific nation of Tuvalu…

UCLA Experts Available for Comment on “A Year of Climate Action” Stemming From the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Experts, affiliated with FSPH’s UCLA Center for Healthy Climate Solutions, are available for comment on issues raised by the IPCC report: Dr. Jonathan Fielding, UCLA FSPH distinguished professor of health policy and management and…

Rutgers to Lead Regional Large-Scale Coastlines and People Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub with Nearly $20M from National Science Foundation

Advancing its mission and leadership role to improve climate risk management critical to societal well-being, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey will lead a multi-university Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH) made possible by a grant through the National Science Foundation’s Coastlines and People (CoPe) Program with expected total funding of $19.9+ million over the next five years.

ITEP releases report examining effects of climate change on Indigenous peoples, lands and culture

As the climate changes and land, air and water are at risk, Native Americans, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous peoples are seeing their water sources dry up and their land disappear under rising sea levels. under attack from rising global temperatures. Researchers at the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals brought together a diverse group of more than 100 authors to produce a first-of-its-kind report that provides an in-depth looks at what tribal nations are doing to protect against the climate crisis.

UNH Receives $1.8 Million Grant to Study Road Resilience to Sea Level Rise

After a summer of high heat, steady sea level rise and devastating hurricanes, coastal roads have continued to take a severe beating resulting in endless wear and tear. Because these roadways have become increasingly vulnerable, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a $1.8 million grant to researchers at the University of New Hampshire to study how and why coastal hazards like excessive flooding are causing roads to crack and crumble and find ways to protect them.

FAU Kicks Off Fall 2021 Virtual ‘Research in Action’ Series

“Research in Action” is a virtual weekly talk series on Zoom. Each week, participants can listen to experts in their fields as they present their latest research and participate in question-and-answer sessions.

Sea Level Rise Report: Impacts to Property and Regional Planning Solutions

A new study reveals that urgent action is needed to protect billions of dollars in real estate investment across South Florida due to impacts of sea level rise over the next several decades. The report casts light on the issues and clarifies the alternatives available to South Florida, which embraces the four counties of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Together, these counties generate more than $337 billion in personal income annually with a combined real property value assessed at more than $833 billion.

Robotic Submarine Snaps First Images at Foundation of Notorious Antarctic Glacier

These are the first-ever images taken at the foundations of the glacier that inspires more fear of sea-level rise than any other – Thwaites Glacier. The grounding line is integral to Thwaites’ fate and that of the world’s coastlines.

For now, river deltas gain land worldwide

Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and colleagues found that delta areas worldwide have actually gained land in the past 30 years, despite river damming. However, recent land gains are unlikely to last throughout the 21st century due to expected, accelerated sea level rise. The researchers published their findings in the journal Nature.

BYE-BYE, BEACHES

Those beaches, as we know them today at least, almost certainly will not last. By the end of the 21st century, more than $150 billion in property along our coast could be under water. That’s because the level of the sea is rising at an alarming rate, putting these areas at risk for devastating floods.

With coastal waters rising, researchers provide first-ever national assessment of FEMA buyouts

A first-of-its-kind study of FEMA buyouts in flood-prone areas nationwide found that most occur in wealthy, denser counties, but that within those areas the most likely targets were vulnerable communities. The study paves the way for future research into equity, race and effectiveness of the buyouts.

While much of the focus on #Dorian has been on the gale force winds, #stormsurge will play a huge role in the #hurricane’s catastrophic impact, says Prof @KyleMandli. Given Dorian’s current track, a widespread surge is expected from Fl to the Carolin

Kyle Mandli models and simulates storm scenarios to develop strategies to protect against coastal disasters. He is especially focused on the impact of storm surge and sea level rise in a warming climate. An assistant professor of applied mathematics at…