Study: Global Warming Threatens Florida
Posted on: Tuesday, 6 June 2006, 18:00 CDT
A study of nine Florida coastal areas suggests many bays and estuaries will be inundated by 2100 due to sea-level rise from global warming.
The survey, commission by the Florida Wildlife and National Wildlife federations, projects if global warming continues, a resulting sea-level rise would dramatically alter the extent and composition of important coastal habitats and fishing, as we know it, could disappear in a matter of decades.
The study included Pensacola Bay, Apalachicola Bay, Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Ten Thousand Islands, Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, St. Lucie Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon.
Based on a projected 15-inch rise in average sea levels during this century, the study found nearly 50 percent of critical salt marsh and 84 percent of tidal flats would be lost. The area of dry land is projected to decrease by 14 percent, or 174,580 acres, and roughly 30 percent of ocean beaches and two-thirds of all estuarine beaches would disappear.
Among the species considered most at risk are Bonefish, Flounder, Gag grouper, Gray snapper, Permit, Pompano, Redfish, Snook, and Tarpon, while essential habitat would be reduced for such prey species as shrimp, crabs and smaller fish, researchers said.
Source: United Press International
Related Articles
- Lab Machine Will Study Glacial Sliding Related To Rising Sea Levels
- Rising sea levels threatening Florida Keys
- Rising Sea Levels Would Be Disastrous For Island Nations
- Sydney Beaches Likely To Erode Due To Rising Sea Levels
- Rising Seas Likely to Flood U.S. History
- Many Large Cities at Risk of Rising Seas
- Cities at Risk of Rising Seas
- Rising sea levels threaten New Jersey - study
- Rising Sea Levels Threaten New Jersey: Study
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds