Worksheet #8: Sea Level Rise (25 pts.)
GLG 101 Fall 2021
Part 1: Introduction
To get a better idea about how polar regions can affect global sea level rise, watch these videos:
Then, read this short article from the Scientific American: How is World Sea Level Rise Driven by Melting Arctic Ice?
1. (2 points) What are the two main drivers of sea level rise discussed in the article?
Answer:
2. (3 point) How does sea ice melt contribute to sea level rise?
Answer:
Part 2: Surging Seas Risk Finder
Visit the Surging Seas Risk Finder website to answer the following questions about the Miami zip code 33129, which has perhaps the most homes at risk from sea level rise:
3. (2 points) Looking at the “When Are the Risks?” figure, how many different Sea Level Rise scenarios are considered and what are they?
Answer:
If all countries abide by the emissions pledges made in the Paris Agreement, then the world is on track for ~2.5C of warming by 2100. That amount of heating corresponds to the “slow rise” sea level scenario on the Surging Seas Risk Finder. However, if greenhouse gas emissions had continued accelerating, then we would suffer ~8.5C of warming, which would probably cause the “extreme” scenario.
4. (2 points) Set the water level slider to 4ft. In what years in the future will there be a 100% likelihood of such a flood under the slow rise and the extreme rise scenarios?
Answer:
5. (2 points) Under the slow rise scenario, what amount of sea level rise is 100% likely to occur by 2100? What about 50% likely to occur by 2100?
Answer:
Part 3: Cost-Benefit Analysis
Under “When are the risks?” keep the sea level scenario on “Slow rise.” Then, scroll down further to “What is at risk?” and click on the Buildings tab.
6. (5 points) Use the water level slider to complete the following table (the first row has been completed as an example):
Water level (ft.)
Homes at risk
Total property value ($Million)
1
13
37
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
7. (2 point) What is the average home value in this zip code (approximately)? Show your work.
Answer:
Now, let’s imagine building a seawall to protect this area of Miami. There are roughly 6 miles of coast along this zip code. The cost of building a 1 foot tall seawall is approximately $762 per horizontal foot. The cost is directly proportional to the height of the seawall.
8. (4 points) Using the fact that there are 5280 feet in 1 mile, complete the following table (again, the first row has been completed as an example):
Seawall Height
Seawall Cost ($Million)
1
24
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
9. (4 points) Based on this information, should Miami build a seawall to protect this area from future sea level rise? If so, how tall should the seawall be? To answer this question, you should compare the cost of the seawall to the value of the property at risk under the likely climate change scenario. Please show your work for any calculations.
Answer:
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