Underwater
In: Scientific American. Scientific American, Inc.: New York. ISSN 0036-8733; e-ISSN 1946-7087, more
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| Abstract |
As sea levels rise, some coastal communities are confronting a future of both chronic and extreme flooding. Retreat—permanently moving people and property away from the water—is radical, but in some places, it is inevitable. Even well-managed retreat is messy and painful. It has rarely been tried at all. One New Jersey town is experimenting with moving a cluster of people out of harm’s way and turning the newly open land into a fl ood buff er to protect the rest of the community. Planning for how and when communities will need to retreat involves many variables. New Jersey could see up to 12 feet of sea-level rise by 2100. Social, political and economic factors add to the complexity. |
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