CSB #7: Rising Bay Water Levels

Over the past few decades, the San Francisco Bay sea level has fallen, but oceanographers believe that the levels will rise. However, while sea levels were rising in the West Coast of the United States, levels have been rising in other parts of the world. The sea levels in other countries have been rising from around 2 to 3 millimeters every year because of climate changes. Data from bays all along the entire West Coast of the United States have no rise in sea levels due to cold local waters and effects of ocean currents. In the future years, scientists are afraid of rising sea levels because Pacific Ocean conditions will enter a new phase in a long-term cycle. They believe that in places like Embarcadero in San Francisco, where the shorelines are low-lying, the sea level will rise 14 inches by 2050. Over the past 30 years, the regional wind patterns over the northeast Pacific have helped move deep cold water in the ocean to the surface near West Coast shorelines. With circulation patterns, cold shoreline waters have kept the sea level height low, but raised it in other parts of the Pacific Rim. Furthermore, the approaching cold phase will cause higher water temperatures along the California and rising sea levels. Oceanographers expect these rises along the West Coast to catch up and possibly overtake sea levels of other countries. In addition, with rising sea levels along the West Coast, there will likely be slowing in the rise of levels in other places like parts of Asia. The commission, in response to the predicted rise, are banning construction in some low-lying areas. 

I believe that the rises in sea level may cause problems like possible deaths from flooding in low-lying areas. Also, it might cause people to become displaced because some areas will become permanently flooded. Higher sea levels might provide an alternate energy source because engineers could build dams along the West Coast of the United States and generate more electricity to power homes and buildings instead of using fossil fuels. I chose this article because I find it interesting that rising sea levels in one area can cause changes in the rate of sea levels in other places. I also find it interesting that climates like cold waters can have an effect on sea levels. Overall, I hope that rises in sea level will benefit the United States rather than cause problems.

Resources: 

• Source: Upton, John. "Bay Water Levels Are Expected to Rise." The New York Times. The
       New York Times, 5 May 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/
       2011/05/06/us/06bcshort.html?ref=science>. 
• Image: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/us/06bcshort.html?ref=science