A new NASA study says that wobbles in
the moon’s orbit in combination climate change could lead to increased flooding
events in the upcoming decade. Increased flooding episodes along coastal
communities are expected to worsen during the 2030s. The moon’s changes in its
orbit aren’t anything new, wobbles have been observed for hundreds of years.
NASA expects not only the intensity of
flooding events to increase but also the frequency. Each year low lying areas
in Northeast Florida experience around half a dozen flooding events, from tidal
episodes. Two local areas that will likely see an increase in tidal flooding
are along Heckscher Drive in Northeast Duval County and in St. Augustine. NOAA
reported more than 600 “sunny day floods” in 2019, along coastal cities in the
U.S.
“Low-lying
areas near sea level are increasingly at risk and suffering due to the
increased flooding, and it will only get worse,” said NASA Administrator Bill
Nelson. “The combination of the Moon’s gravitational pull, rising sea levels,
and climate change will continue to exacerbate coastal flooding on our
coastlines and across the world. NASA’s Sea Level Change Team is providing
crucial information so that we can plan, protect, and prevent damage to the
environment and people’s livelihoods affected by flooding.”
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