With 53% of the population living in coastal communities and sea levels rising as a result of climate change, it is crucial that we address the issue through adaptation and mitigation. People living around coastal regions will be more susceptible but we also need to consider the impact on the coastal environments, estuaries and their vegetation and its biodiversity. This piece will analyze the changes of other estuaries to predict what the changes for Newport Back Bay. Because the estuary is surrounded by developed and industrialized land, rising sea levels will have a profound effect on its functions and appearance. Human activities at a global, regional, and local level add additional weight to the wetland’s change as a result of climate
…show more content…
Sea levels rising is a result of thermal expansion, glacier and ice caps melting, the loss of Greenland ice sheet and that of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Rising sea levels will have a devastating effect on coastal habitats. The rise of the sea height means a rise in the storm surge baseline, “allowing coastal surges to penetrate farther inland (Day2008:477).” This will cause a likelihood of …show more content…
Its islands support vegetation and composed of species whose distributions are controlled by salinity, elevation, inundation, and sedimentation (Winter 1966:81). There are two types of vegetation that should be considered the Salicornia virginica and the Batis and Swaeda. Salicornia virginica, a halophyte, that is most likely to tolerate sea levels rising seeing that it thrives under extremely wet conditions and relatively dry conditions likewise (VOGL1966:86). Although Salica virginica is likely to tolerate rising sea levels, however, the change in level will be harmful to a specie residing in the coastal marshes of Southern California. The Clapper Rail and its nesting habitat in Southern California. There has been a decline in their population as a result of loss of habitat. This significant loss of habitat is due to the “estimated 75% of California’s coastal wetlands have been destroyed or severely altered since (Massey1984:67).” The Clapper Rail nests in the island of sea grass and has adapted to the tidal changes. The nest is designed to float upward as the high tide begins. There has been some adaptation in terms of vegetation and species but it is not sufficient to survive the drastic sea level
Sea levels rising is a result of thermal expansion, glacier and ice caps melting, the loss of Greenland ice sheet and that of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Rising sea levels will have a devastating effect on coastal habitats. The rise of the sea height means a rise in the storm surge baseline, “allowing coastal surges to penetrate farther inland (Day2008:477).” This will cause a likelihood of …show more content…
Its islands support vegetation and composed of species whose distributions are controlled by salinity, elevation, inundation, and sedimentation (Winter 1966:81). There are two types of vegetation that should be considered the Salicornia virginica and the Batis and Swaeda. Salicornia virginica, a halophyte, that is most likely to tolerate sea levels rising seeing that it thrives under extremely wet conditions and relatively dry conditions likewise (VOGL1966:86). Although Salica virginica is likely to tolerate rising sea levels, however, the change in level will be harmful to a specie residing in the coastal marshes of Southern California. The Clapper Rail and its nesting habitat in Southern California. There has been a decline in their population as a result of loss of habitat. This significant loss of habitat is due to the “estimated 75% of California’s coastal wetlands have been destroyed or severely altered since (Massey1984:67).” The Clapper Rail nests in the island of sea grass and has adapted to the tidal changes. The nest is designed to float upward as the high tide begins. There has been some adaptation in terms of vegetation and species but it is not sufficient to survive the drastic sea level