Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Geotimes: The Impending Coastal Crisis

GEOTIMES: THE IMPENDING COASTAL CRISIS

For Immediate Release
Contact: Megan Sever kms@agiweb.org

Alexandria, VA – Coastlines are the most dynamic feature on the planet. In the March issue, "Geotimes" magazine looks into the risks of increased development along our coastlines and what that means for erosion, flooding and future development.

As coastal communities grow, so does the call for human-made structures to prevent local beach erosion. But what do these structures mean for the overall health of surrounding coastal areas?

"Geotimes" follows the erosion patterns of the southern shore of Long Island, starting with its recovery from the 1938 Long Island New England Hurricane. The noticeable change in landscape after the Category-3 hurricane caused a demand for structures that would stabilize the remaining inlets. While the structures did help the situation locally, erosion increased elsewhere, creating a need for more engineered structures.

What happens to the land when normal erosional patterns are altered? "Geotimes" studies the effects nor'easters that struck Long Island in the early 1990s, decades after bulkheads and jetties were put in place. Did the residents learn from past mistakes when rebuilding after the storms of the '90s?

Learn more about changing landscapes, including how salinity is a growing problem in many of the world's agricultural areas, plus read about dangerous contaminants in China's water and follow the Appalachian Trail into Canada, in the March issue of "Geotimes" magazine, available now on newsstands and on the Web at http://www.geotimes.org.

Keep up to date with the latest happenings in earth, energy and environment news by checking out "Geotimes" online at http://www.geotimes.org. Published by the American Geological Institute, "Geotimes" is your source for news and perspectives on research, technology and policy that affects you everyday. Sign up for E-alerts, our short, weekly e-mails that alert subscribers to new content posted on the "Geotimes" Web site, and subscribe to the magazine at http://www.geotimes.org.


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