Boston, are you ready?

Yeah, how about warming up the seas a bit more by building pipelines, buying into more explosive methane (*), and encouraging fracked gas people to export? What could it hurt? There are many alternatives, most sketched here on this blog.

From Wired.

S. Kruel, “The impacts of sea-level rise on tidal flooding in Boston, Massachusetts“, Journal of Coastal Research (in press):

In Boston, Massachusetts, chronic tidal flooding due to sea-level rise will occur in many developed parts of the city over the next several decades and beyond. This study examines the frequency and severity of tidal flooding due to increases in sea level of between 0.3 to 1.8 m (1.0 and 6.0 ft), as well as where flooding will generally occur. Local tide gauge data are compared to the National Weather Service’s flood stage categories to determine how frequently they will be reached at high tide as sea level rises. GIS data are used to demonstrate where flooding is likely to occur, and U.S. Census data are used to identify assets that will be impacted. The study also depicts the relationships among the multiple datums currently used to measure water levels in Boston. Results of the analysis indicate that in the absence of any new flood barriers, the incidence of minor tidal flooding will increase to about 75 times per year within Boston Harbor with 0.3 m (1 ft) of sea-level rise. Nine-tenths of a meter (3 ft) of sea-level rise will result in about 30 occurrences of moderate flooding per year, and 1.2 m (4 ft) will bring that same frequency of major flooding incidents. Tidal flooding due to 1.8 m (6 ft) of sea-level rise will affect approximately 20% of the population and land, as well as housing, public facilities, transportation infrastructure, and hazardous waste sites. The study suggests that future conditions will require the development of non[-]emergency responses to flooding as well as a new approach to urban floodplain management.

A. Bonner, “Coastal communities face extreme peril, must prepare“, The Boston Harbor Association, 10th March 2016

E. Douglas, “The rising tide in Boston: Sea level rise and coastal flooding due to climate change“, University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Climate indicators in Boston“, City of Boston.

Sea level rise projections for Boston“, City of Boston.

Boston preparedness“, including temporary flood barriers which, of course, don’t work for recurring and long term problems


(*) I use “explosive methane” rather than “natural gas” because the latter is a long-time sales slogan for gas producers. “Natural gas ain’t granola.” Indeed, it <a href="http://www.ou.edu/class/che-design/a-design/projects-2009/BTEX%20Removal%20from%20Natural%20Gas.pdf"contains Benzene and Xylene in addition to Methane. Benzene is a power carcinogen. There are sufficient concerns regarding the long term effects of (primarily) fracked methane gas to move some (beginning in 2012) to propose a long term registry of those who have been exposed to it.

About ecoquant

See https://wordpress.com/view/667-per-cm.net/ Retired data scientist and statistician. Now working projects in quantitative ecology and, specifically, phenology of Bryophyta and technical methods for their study.
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1 Response to Boston, are you ready?

  1. ppitha says:

    I work in the Seaport area of Boston and the amount of building RIGHT ON THE OCEAN is ridiculous. How could this development be touted as such a success? Menino? Huh? And why is GE moving their headquarters here? Just for a few years until it’s underwater? Long term planning is a joke.

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