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Climate change causing groundwater problems, as sea levels rise

Why Groundwater is Another Sea Level Rise Concern, Climate Central by Andrew Freedman, 4 May 12 Sea level rise brings to mind the threat of coastal flooding from menacing storm surges, with growing risks to shore-based infrastructure — but a new study indicates there’s another sea level rise-related threat that has so far slipped under the radar.

According to the study, as sea level rises, so will groundwater levels, and since underground infrastructure —  including sewer pipes and utility equipment  — was built with historical groundwater levels in mind, this could lead to expensive headaches for coastal communities. The study, by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Yale University, looks at the threat to New Haven, CT, Yale’s home city. Sea level rise may indeed raise groundwater levels significantly underneath the city, according to the study, leading to problems not just with pipes and pumps and buried cables but also with the arch-nemesis of many New England homeowners — basement flooding.

“Scenarios for the resulting higher groundwater levels have the potential to inundate underground infrastructure in lowlying coastal cities,” the study states……

Recent research by Climate Central scientists found that even small amounts of sea level rise can greatly increase the risk of rare floods by adding to tides and storm surge. Climate Central’s work, which was published in the journalEnvironmental Research Letters, shows a projected sea level rise in Bridgeport of about a foot by 2050. The amount of sea level rise projected to take place in the New Haven area is not as significant as projections for many other locations in the U.S., which suggests that other cities may face much greater groundwater challenges.   http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/sea-level-rise-may-raise-groundwater-levels/

May 7, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change