SLAMM Maps Illustrate Climate Change Impacts in Rhode Island

BRISTOL, R.I.__ In January of this year the Coastal Resources Center (CRC) adopted the Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) that maps the effects of sea level rise in all 21 Rhode Island coastal communities. Over the past 200 years Rhode Island has lost 50 percent of its salt marshes due to man made alterations. Today, the remaining 4,000 acres are threatened by sea level rise.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region via Flickr

Salt marshes provide commercial and recreational fishing as well as shoreline protection to the Ocean State. The SLAMM maps illustrate how the salt marshes will be affected by one foot, three feet and five feet of sea level rise in the decades to come. Rhode Island residents can view the public maps to find out how their neighborhood could be affected by climate change and sea level rise.

Jim Tobey and Pam Rubinoff, both Senior Coastal Managers for CRC, worked to develop the maps. The maps target areas of the state that require heavier restoration and protection.

Additionally, the maps will help state decision makers plan for future wetland conditions.

RWU Students Attend Planet Forward Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C.__ On Thursday April 23, the annual Planet Forward Summit took place at George Washington University. Since 2009, Planet Forward has aimed to bring awareness to sustainability issues through the work and innovation of students. This year the topic of discussion was sustainable food.

Five Roger Williams journalism students and their Professor, Michael Scully, traveled to Washington to be apart of the conversation. The students created video this semester that illustrated sustainable food in Rhode Island.

Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary USDA

Frank Sesno, Emmy Award-winning journalist and creator of Planet Forward Hosted the summit. Panelist and speakers included Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Michael J. Frank the Vice President of Monsanto. Additionally, farmers and students spoke about how climate change and the growing population threaten their work.

The summit asked the question, how will we feed the projected 9 billion people on the planet come 2050? From food production to food waste many topics where discussed that change the way we think about food. Everybody eats but very few are involved in food production.

Obama Outlines Climate Change on Earth Day

BRISTOL, R.I.__ President Obama spoke in the Florida Everglades today to celebrate Earth Day and to pitch his climate change message to the public. The President delivered his message at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center in Homestead, a town that will likely be consumed by sea level rise in the next 50 years.

Most of the Everglades are only a few feet above current sea levels. The expected rise in waters will threaten the $9 billion a year tourism industry in Southern Florida. Obama spoke about how climate change can affect national security, personal health, and public safety.

Photo courtesy of Eric Salard via Flickr

Last week during his radio address, Obama stated climate change is, “an issue that’s bigger and longer-lasting than my presidency. It’s about protecting our God-given natural wonders, and the good jobs that rely on them.”

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) is well known for not being convinced that man made climate change exists. Earlier this year environmental officials in Florida were ordered not to use the terms climate change or global warming in any official records or public talks.

Forty-five years after the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, climate change is the topic of discussion. The first Earth Day prompted the passing of both the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, will this year’s Earth Day inspire any new laws?

RWU Students Create Happy Home For Clownfish

BRISTOL, R.I.__ Roger Williams University students in the marine biology department create successful fish habitats when they monitor the temperature of the water. Clownfish can sustain temperature change in their habits of a couple degrees in captivity. However, temperatures in the ocean can fluctuate 10 or more degrees which threatens the survival of the fish.

As climate change increases the temperature in the ocean, many species could be in danger. At the Marine and Natural Sciences building on campus students work toward to create homes for fish with regulated temperatures.

Like lobsters, clownfish suffer as so many other fish do as a result of climate change.

Climate Change Causes California Drought

BRISTOL, R.I.__ Californians experience their fourth year of drought this season as climate change continues to alter weather patterns. This week when officials estimated snowpack, the amount of water expected to flow out of the mountains due to melting snow, they found there was only six percent of the normal rate. The lack of snow from the long dry winter will leave farmers, in particular, to find water elsewhere.

Californian farmers produce more than half of the country’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In 2013, their agricultural exports amounted to $21.24 billion in revenue. Farmers who rely on snowpack which replenishes surface water now have to turn to ground water to irrigate their crops.

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. (D) mandated the state’s first ever water restriction order after the snowpack numbers were revealed.

“Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow. This historic drought demands unprecedented action,” said Governor Brown . “Therefore, I’m issuing an executive order mandating substantial water reductions across our state. As Californians, we must pull together and save water in every way possible.”

This drought caused by climate change extremes threatens the California farming industry. Restrictions on urban water usage aim to provide more water for farmers to feed the nation.

https://soundcloud.com/kpfa-fm-94-1-berkeley/state-leaders-propose

(Courtesy of KPFA 94.1 via soundcloud)