12.7 percent of barrier islands—a total of 272—surround the Arctic Ocean

12.7 percent of barrier islands—a total of 272—surround the Arctic Ocean

According to a new survey, there are 2,149 barrier islands around the world, spanning 20,783 kilometers (12,914 miles) of coastline. Seventy-four percent of those islands are found in the northern hemisphere, though that is not necessarily a surprise because roughly

Australia evaluates sea level threats

Australia evaluates sea level threats

Australia’s major cities are all coastal. Confirmed sea level rises, combined with ongoing severe coastal erosion, have been worrying people for the last decade. It’s now looking like the famous Australian beachside lifestyle is riding on the tides.The problem

Bahamas sink while one island mysteriously rises

Bahamas sink while one island mysteriously rises

All the islands in the Bahamas were thought to be slowly sinking, but now scientists find one quirky isle going against the crowd. This anomaly suggests the area may be less seismically stable than previously thought. Scientists focused on the small island of…

Two small islands have sunk into the sea between India and Sri Lanka

Two small islands have sunk into the sea between India and Sri Lanka

Two small islands in South Asia’s first marine biosphere reserve have sunk into the sea primarily as a result of coral reef mining. The islets were in a group in the Gulf of Mannar, between India and Sri Lanka.The Indo-Pacific region is considered to contain some of

Effects of climate change in the Arctic more extensive than expected

Effects of climate change in the Arctic more extensive than expected

The effects of climate change in the Arctic are already here. A much reduced covering of snow, shorter winter season and thawing tundra. And the changes are taking place significantly faster than previously thought. This is what emerges from a new research report on

Colonial-Era erosion may have fueled Wetland growth

Colonial-Era erosion may have fueled Wetland growth

The salt marshes that rim the shores of Massachusetts’s Plum Island estuary, which provide nesting grounds for numerous waterfowl and extremely productive spawning grounds for striped bass and soft-shell clams, have grown by 300 hectares in the last 300

New York ‘at risk’ as seas rise

New York ‘at risk’ as seas rise

New York is a major loser and Reykjavik a winner from new forecasts of sea level rise in different regions.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in 2007 that sea levels would rise at least 28cm (1ft) by the year 2100. But this is a global average;

Heavy floods or sinking of Southern Thailand

Heavy floods or sinking of Southern Thailand

Two airports closed, boat and south-bound train services suspended, and almost one million people affected as the flood in southern Thailand worsened. The death toll continues to climb. Since 23 March 2011 there has been a prolonged heavy rainfall causing flash floods

Meteotsunami hit Indian Morjim and Baga coastal region

Meteotsunami hit Indian Morjim and Baga coastal region

The unusual flooding of Morjim and Baga beaches showed signs of respite on Thursday, but a tsunami expert said it may have been caused by a meteotsunami on the lines of a similar phenomenon in Kerala during the past decade. There were no strange meteorological…

Super high tides, supermoon, superquake?! Bloggers watch out for missinfo!

Super high tides, supermoon, superquake?! Bloggers watch out for missinfo!

Blogs and news sites writing today about Fiji’s superhightide.  FijiTimes in yesterday’s edition issued an article named Super high tide. Nubukalou Creek in Suva, Fiji burst its bank with seawater flowing throught city streets. This kind of events happen on regular