US Gulf erosion may threaten coastal residents - NOAA
Date: 22-Apr-03
Country: USA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said some parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast are losing up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) of elevation each year.
At this rate, erosion could leave 15,000 square miles (39,000 square km) of southern Louisiana at or below sea level by 2073.
The drop in coastal elevation, called subsidence, has already left metropolitan areas such as New Orleans below sea level, increasing the risk of coastal flooding, NOAA said.
"Every year, we see new storms that impact a growing number of communities, roadways and infrastructure," said Bill Proenza, a NOAA director. "We recognize the changing landscape of coastal Louisiana and Mississippi increases the threat from future storms."
NOAA officials said at the agency's National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans it is increasing monitoring systems used to gauge coastal water levels and forecast coastal storms.
The long-term focus will be on projects to halt coastal erosion, the agency said.
Mitigating the impact from coastal storms and hurricanes has grown increasingly important in recent years.
U.S. Census Bureau reports show the population in coastal Louisiana and Mississippi is growing. The region also is home to hundreds of oil and gas production wells.
