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Permafrost Loss and Erosion
1
Alaska's Crumbling Coast
Introduction to Coastal Erosion
My Presentation focuses on political action required to solve the erosion issue in Alaska. My thesis is:
Erosion is accelerating due to climate change and causing increasing damage and threats to coastal communities.
Intro
- Alaska is losing its coast
- Winter storms are eroding more shore each year
- Small storms are having a gradual affect
- Rural communities need assistance in dealing with this catastrophe
The Issue of Erosion
- Permafrost and ice loss is accelerating storm erosion
- Many rural communities are built in high-risk areas along the coast
- Most will be forced to relocate in the next 15 years
- The rural Alaskan communities face high moving costs
- Little to no aid is provided by the federal government
- Issue is not catagorized as a disaster
- Funding and policy changes required
The
Issue
Erosion and Open Water
http://nsidc.org/images/arcticseaicenews/20111102_Figure5.png
Storm waves in Shishmaref
https://nsidc.org/sites/nsidc.org/files/icelights/files/2011/05/shishmaref.jpg
Narrative and Scientific Observations
Evidence
- Residents of Newtok describe the coast being barely in site from the village, and it is now 40 feet from the nearest house
- "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2006 predicted that erosion could make the community "no longer viable" within 15 to 25 years" says an Anchorage Daily News article
- Paul Charles told The Atlantic that "Sometimes, we lose 100 feet a year,” in the village of Newtok
- "Reach 1 is a 9,600-foot portion of coastline that fronts the community and is eroding at a rate of 2.0 feet per year." says an Army Corp of Engineers report of Shaktoolik
- Many studies show increasing trends
Before and After a Small Storm
https://www.climate.gov/sites/default/files/styles/featured-image/public/drewpt-
Map of Vulnerable Shoreline in the USA
https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1075/images/us.gif
Possible Solutions
Solutions
- Create new grant source for communities to apply to
- Assist in material and vehicular transport
- Change policies to limit development on high-risk areas
- Reduce Climate Change!!!
Reasons for Providing Aid
Reasoning
- As Axel Jackson puts it "they still treat us like we’re a third world country.”
- These people are US citizens, and recieving no help from their government
- The issue will soon be facing many other communities in other states
Newtok's New Village Site
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/4/Images/Mertarvik_barge_landing1.jpg
My Findings
Findings
- I found that Alaskan villages are losing ground at a frightening pace
- This speed is gradually accelerating due to warmer temperatures and stronger storms
- These have been directly linked with a warmer atmosphere
- A frightening number of affected villages, all to be lost in the next 20 years
- My hypothesis holds and the issue is extremely severe
- Immediate help needed badly
Citations
Goode, T. E. (2016, November 29). A Wrenching Choice for Alaska Towns in the Path of Climate Change. Retrieved March 24, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/29/science/alaska-global-warming.html
This offers an insight into the problems that villages are facing. The lack of
Sources
Sources
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/29/science/alaska-global-warming.html
- https://www.adn.com/arctic/article/erosion-eating-away-north-slope-shoreline-usgs-report-says/2015/07/02/
- http://www.rff.org/research/publications/rising-sea-levels-and-coastal-erosion-policy-options-help-commmunities-adapt
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/alaskas-coast-is-vanishing-1-storm-at-a-time/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/08/alaska-village-climate-change/402604/
- http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Portals/34/docs/civilworks/BEA/Shaktoolik_Final%20Report.pdf