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The Attacking Ocean: The Past, Present, and Future of Rising Sea Levels
The past fifteen thousand years--the entire span of human civilization--have witnessed dramatic sea level changes, which began with rapid global warming at the end of the Ice Age, when sea levels were more than 700 feet below modern levels. Over the next eleven millennia, the oceans climbed in fits and starts. These rapid changes had little effect on those humans who experienced them, partly because there were so few people on earth, and also because they were able to adjust readily to new coastlines.Global sea levels stabilized about six thousand years ago except for local adjustments that caused often quite significant changes to places like the Nile Delta. So the curve of inexorably rising seas flattened out as urban civilizations developed in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and South Asia. The earth's population boomed, quintupling from the time of Christ to the Industrial Revolution. The threat from the oceans increased with our crowding along shores to live, fish, and trade.Since 1860, the world has warmed significantly and the ocean's climb has speeded. The sea level changes are cumulative and gradual; no one knows when they will end. "The Attacking Ocean," from celebrated author Brian Fagan, tells a tale of the rising complexity of the relationship between humans and the sea at their doorsteps, a complexity created not by the oceans, which have changed but little. What has changed is us, and the number of us on earth.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2013
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364 people want to read
About the author
Brian M. Fagan
180 books270 followersBrian Murray Fagan was a British author of popular archaeology books and a professor emeritus of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 18, 2021
A good historical survey of times when oceans rose and impacted human civilization. Attacking Ocean ranges across the world and over millennia, offering case studies we can sympathize with and compare to each other.
April 24, 2017
While it is an incredibly important topic --- the dangerous rise of ocean levels, this book doesn't provide much in what we can expect from this ongoing disaster, or what to do about it today. The historical perspective and geography is covered very well, I just think the author missed on just what it means to people looking ahead and possible actions to take. Obviously, we will be experiencing much more in the way of unexpected problems from nature (related to sea levels rising and increased global temperatures) but it seems these issues and what to do about them will continue to be ignored until loss of life reaches a critical stage.
November 4, 2013
I started reading this shortly after watching Blackfish and man. Depressing. (But fascinating.) The Attacking Ocean is a sometimes dense, but still riveting nonfiction book about how rising sea levels have affected and are continuing to affect land mass and civilization. Fagan also talks about how these higher sea levels are responsible for the increasing severity of cyclones/hurricanes and tsunamis.
It’s a sobering, eye-opening book. I knew—in generalities—that global warming was affecting the ocean and severe weather, but this book really drills down on the issues. Its objective, academic tone makes the really scary bits even scarier. The statistics listing thousands upon thousands of people killed by severe storms, the probability that Bangladesh could basically disappear into the ocean within a few generations, the emergency evacuation plans for refugees that some South Pacific islands have in place since they know their island could virtually disappear within the century, the impact of coastal erosion on traditional fishing villages in Alaska…It goes on and on. And it’s pretty terrifying.
Still, the book is far from sensational. It’s packed full of hard-won research, statistics and data, and Fagan makes it clear he’s not hypothesizing about much except the WHEN. The If is not in question any longer, basically. (Put this in the context of Hurricane Sandy, which he talks at length about, and it hits really close to home—no pun intended.) It seems like Fagan has no real agenda or call to action, except to discuss historical events and enlighten people about how current events are being impacted by increasing global warming. Fagan’s lack of solutions might be the scariest thing about this book. Is there any turning back? Is there a solution (globally or locally) that could actually reverse some of this? Fagan seems to think we’re pretty far gone.
The Attacking Ocean is well-worth the read, but be forewarned! When I say it’s academic, it’s very academic. If you can’t stand footnotes, this is not your book. (Let me direct you to the new Bridget Jones novel. I’m kidding.)
It’s a sobering, eye-opening book. I knew—in generalities—that global warming was affecting the ocean and severe weather, but this book really drills down on the issues. Its objective, academic tone makes the really scary bits even scarier. The statistics listing thousands upon thousands of people killed by severe storms, the probability that Bangladesh could basically disappear into the ocean within a few generations, the emergency evacuation plans for refugees that some South Pacific islands have in place since they know their island could virtually disappear within the century, the impact of coastal erosion on traditional fishing villages in Alaska…It goes on and on. And it’s pretty terrifying.
Still, the book is far from sensational. It’s packed full of hard-won research, statistics and data, and Fagan makes it clear he’s not hypothesizing about much except the WHEN. The If is not in question any longer, basically. (Put this in the context of Hurricane Sandy, which he talks at length about, and it hits really close to home—no pun intended.) It seems like Fagan has no real agenda or call to action, except to discuss historical events and enlighten people about how current events are being impacted by increasing global warming. Fagan’s lack of solutions might be the scariest thing about this book. Is there any turning back? Is there a solution (globally or locally) that could actually reverse some of this? Fagan seems to think we’re pretty far gone.
The Attacking Ocean is well-worth the read, but be forewarned! When I say it’s academic, it’s very academic. If you can’t stand footnotes, this is not your book. (Let me direct you to the new Bridget Jones novel. I’m kidding.)
August 3, 2014
I did not know a lot of what this book was written about but I will say the people who live near the coast should read about the history of where they live so as to know the what might happen sometime from storms or melting glaciers
February 16, 2025
Interesting stuff, and I liked the discussion of ocean level changes since the last Ice Age, not just due to anthropogenic climate change. However, the structure of the book was a little convoluted and I think it could have used some editing. Nevertheless it was engagingly written and a fascinating, if depressing, look at how vulnerable we are to the ocean.
ETA NGL I have zero memory of reading this before, but I agree completely with past me!
ETA NGL I have zero memory of reading this before, but I agree completely with past me!
September 3, 2013
Fastastic. Addresses sea level rise across centuries and countries/cultures. A great read wherever you stand on the issue of global warming.
May 19, 2014
The framing bothered me from the start (the sea is not attacking) but it is a good overview of the many times and places where human settlements have been inundated.
June 8, 2018
The Ocean is not to be blamed.
In some Asian cities, there are slums (and even markets), which are placed on top of the existing railways. Every hour a train comes through, and people need to give way. Once in a while, a small child, an elderly, or a drunk ends up on the rails at the wrong time. As sad as it may be, nobody blames the train or even its engineer. The slum has come long after the railway, the slum has no right to be here first place... Can you say the train has "attacked" the slum dwellers?
The book of Brian M. Fagan is interesting to read and well-researched (although his definition of a nautical "knot" is wrong), unfortunately the author constantly contradicts himself, desperately trying to link already discarded catastrophic anthropogenic global warming (CAGW) hypotheses to his text, even if his archaeological evidence shows the opposite. If he simply omitted any notion of IPCC and such, the text would be much more objective.
Indeed, from about 22000 years ago, the ice sheets were constantly melting and the sea levels rose. The fastest such event was between approximately 12900 and 11900 BC, and in one thousand years the sea rose by 23-24 meters - that is 2.4 meters per century. The sea rise continued even through the relatively cold Younger Dryas epoch, coming up 15 m in 1200 years, or 1.3 meters per century.
The first half of our current geological epoch, Holocene, which started about 9650 BC, - yet another "rapid" sea rise: 59 m in 4650 years, or the same 1.3 m per century. Neither rise was "catastrophic" (too slow) or "anthropogenic" (humans were simply too small in numbers at that time). The prior warm period, Eemian interglacial, happened 130-110 thousand years ago, the sea level was higher than our present, and homo sapiens species existed only in Africa. All in all, the current global warming, Holocene, in the last 12 thousand years made our planet way more habitable and led to the very existence of our modern technical civilization.
On the page 10, the author shows the only time series in the book, which starts "conveniently" at year 1870 and shows a sea rise of 21 cm in 150 years. Which gives - sca-a-a-a-a-a-ary figure - 0.13 meters per century! Thirteen bloody centimeters! An order of magnitude less than in the first half of Holocene. Is that all the humans could do with all their CO2?
Well, the sea rise continued from 5000 BC to the present day, at about 0.06 m per century on average. Sometimes the rate was faster, like now, sometimes slower, like during the "Little Ice Age" (1300-1850 BC). Anyway, even 0.31 m per century (as measured by satellites since 1991) is nothing "abnormal" and "unnatural", neither "anthropogenic" nor "catastrophic". The Mother Earth goes its own ways for the last 4.5 billion years and does not give a damn about IPCC bureaucrats. The Antarctica and Greenland still hold enough water (27 million cubic km) to increase the sea level by about 75 meters. No doubt, as Holocene continues, they continue to melt slowly for another five or nine thousand years. By the time, Holocene will be over, plunging the planet into another 100000 years of ice and snow, our civilization will be over, and our distant descendants will be either all over Solar System or back to the caves.
So, the Holocene Global Warming (HGW - neither anthropogenic nor catastrophic) is a good thing after all, and not a drama.
To make the book more dramatic, the author mixes-in some real catastrophic events: earthquake-induces tsunamis, severe storms, flash-flooding and even failing dams. He adds also some local geological mishaps, like natural subsidence, which have been there for millennia. All of these have nothing to do with HGW and the global sea rise. Most disasters are caused (as the author correctly pointed out), by human's desire to leave near the water, for reasons both esthetic and economic, and have nothing to do with the climate change. I wonder why the author mentioned the IPCC first place? Desire to be more Catholic than the Pope himself?
The overpopulation and over-development of coastal areas are real problems what should be dealt with. The Ocean (or Mother-Nature in general) is not to be blamed.
In some Asian cities, there are slums (and even markets), which are placed on top of the existing railways. Every hour a train comes through, and people need to give way. Once in a while, a small child, an elderly, or a drunk ends up on the rails at the wrong time. As sad as it may be, nobody blames the train or even its engineer. The slum has come long after the railway, the slum has no right to be here first place... Can you say the train has "attacked" the slum dwellers?
The book of Brian M. Fagan is interesting to read and well-researched (although his definition of a nautical "knot" is wrong), unfortunately the author constantly contradicts himself, desperately trying to link already discarded catastrophic anthropogenic global warming (CAGW) hypotheses to his text, even if his archaeological evidence shows the opposite. If he simply omitted any notion of IPCC and such, the text would be much more objective.
Indeed, from about 22000 years ago, the ice sheets were constantly melting and the sea levels rose. The fastest such event was between approximately 12900 and 11900 BC, and in one thousand years the sea rose by 23-24 meters - that is 2.4 meters per century. The sea rise continued even through the relatively cold Younger Dryas epoch, coming up 15 m in 1200 years, or 1.3 meters per century.
The first half of our current geological epoch, Holocene, which started about 9650 BC, - yet another "rapid" sea rise: 59 m in 4650 years, or the same 1.3 m per century. Neither rise was "catastrophic" (too slow) or "anthropogenic" (humans were simply too small in numbers at that time). The prior warm period, Eemian interglacial, happened 130-110 thousand years ago, the sea level was higher than our present, and homo sapiens species existed only in Africa. All in all, the current global warming, Holocene, in the last 12 thousand years made our planet way more habitable and led to the very existence of our modern technical civilization.
On the page 10, the author shows the only time series in the book, which starts "conveniently" at year 1870 and shows a sea rise of 21 cm in 150 years. Which gives - sca-a-a-a-a-a-ary figure - 0.13 meters per century! Thirteen bloody centimeters! An order of magnitude less than in the first half of Holocene. Is that all the humans could do with all their CO2?
Well, the sea rise continued from 5000 BC to the present day, at about 0.06 m per century on average. Sometimes the rate was faster, like now, sometimes slower, like during the "Little Ice Age" (1300-1850 BC). Anyway, even 0.31 m per century (as measured by satellites since 1991) is nothing "abnormal" and "unnatural", neither "anthropogenic" nor "catastrophic". The Mother Earth goes its own ways for the last 4.5 billion years and does not give a damn about IPCC bureaucrats. The Antarctica and Greenland still hold enough water (27 million cubic km) to increase the sea level by about 75 meters. No doubt, as Holocene continues, they continue to melt slowly for another five or nine thousand years. By the time, Holocene will be over, plunging the planet into another 100000 years of ice and snow, our civilization will be over, and our distant descendants will be either all over Solar System or back to the caves.
So, the Holocene Global Warming (HGW - neither anthropogenic nor catastrophic) is a good thing after all, and not a drama.
To make the book more dramatic, the author mixes-in some real catastrophic events: earthquake-induces tsunamis, severe storms, flash-flooding and even failing dams. He adds also some local geological mishaps, like natural subsidence, which have been there for millennia. All of these have nothing to do with HGW and the global sea rise. Most disasters are caused (as the author correctly pointed out), by human's desire to leave near the water, for reasons both esthetic and economic, and have nothing to do with the climate change. I wonder why the author mentioned the IPCC first place? Desire to be more Catholic than the Pope himself?
The overpopulation and over-development of coastal areas are real problems what should be dealt with. The Ocean (or Mother-Nature in general) is not to be blamed.
November 20, 2017
In this book, Brian Fagan takes a look at the changing sea levels over the entire span of human civilization, from the end of the Ice Age to our current levels. He also takes a look at the complex relationship between the growing human population and the oceans along which we live.
Fagan provides a variety of case examples over a variety of ages all over the globe that show how rising ocean levels are as ancient as the Earth and that humans have usually adapted to the changing sea levels. There is also some discussion on how the Netherlands and a few other countries have dealt with reclaiming or at least keeping the ocean at bay; and how feasible (politically and financially) these options are for poorer countries. Fagan also briefly discusses the deleterious effect that the destruction of coastal estuaries, mangroves, barrier islands and wetlands, as well as excessive ground water pumping, has on mitigating the effects of storm surges, hurricanes, tsunamis and floods etc. Fagan also provides a brief explanation why rising sea levels are important, for example: in terms of loss of agricultural land and increased salinity in ground water resulting in less food production; loss of living land resulting in large migrations to other places that don’t want or can’t afford an excessive influx of people; the destruction of coastal cities/villages; and large financial expenditure to rebuild damaged infrastructure or flood barriers etc.
The book is fairly interesting and well written, but the various examples tend to have a lot of similarities, probably made unavoidable by the nature of the subject. One interesting feature of this book is the second table of contents which arranges chapters in terms of regions rather than chronologically, providing an alternative reading order. Maps of the different regions are provided but these don’t show up very well in the ebook.
Fagan provides a variety of case examples over a variety of ages all over the globe that show how rising ocean levels are as ancient as the Earth and that humans have usually adapted to the changing sea levels. There is also some discussion on how the Netherlands and a few other countries have dealt with reclaiming or at least keeping the ocean at bay; and how feasible (politically and financially) these options are for poorer countries. Fagan also briefly discusses the deleterious effect that the destruction of coastal estuaries, mangroves, barrier islands and wetlands, as well as excessive ground water pumping, has on mitigating the effects of storm surges, hurricanes, tsunamis and floods etc. Fagan also provides a brief explanation why rising sea levels are important, for example: in terms of loss of agricultural land and increased salinity in ground water resulting in less food production; loss of living land resulting in large migrations to other places that don’t want or can’t afford an excessive influx of people; the destruction of coastal cities/villages; and large financial expenditure to rebuild damaged infrastructure or flood barriers etc.
The book is fairly interesting and well written, but the various examples tend to have a lot of similarities, probably made unavoidable by the nature of the subject. One interesting feature of this book is the second table of contents which arranges chapters in terms of regions rather than chronologically, providing an alternative reading order. Maps of the different regions are provided but these don’t show up very well in the ebook.
January 8, 2018
The Attacking Ocean is a history of people dealing with the ever changing ocean. From 15,000 years ago to today and from the North Sea to Tuvalu and Bangladesh. It is a history of how civil actions have dealt with the encroaching sea over the years. From rising tides after the last ice age, to storm surges, floods and tsunamis. Fagan doesn't present the book as a liberal narrative, instead focusing on one era or region then expanding from there. Still a narrative overarch is present as society has gotten more complex, as we've built more and cities in flood prone areas, river deltas and coastal regions, we've protected our selves from the small disasters but made us more susceptible to the large ones.
In the past a seasonal drought or famine could be devastating, people would die, communities could be wiped out. Now in most of the world a year or two drought or famine would be bad but we can bring in water or food, we are insured against these small variations in the natural order. On the reverse, in the past if sea levels rose or a delta flooded, those living there would simply move. Now we have millions of people in enormous cities in storm surge areas. In the past 200 years hundreds of thousands of people have died due to storm surges in East Asia alone.
Fagan discusses options for these areas basically boiling down to relocation, difficult if not politically impossible most places, or building defenses as the Low Countries in Europe have done, which is incredibly expensive. This isn't a particularly optimistic book but it is more measured in tone than it might otherwise be. Fagan brings the long view to the topic, knowing that ocean levels aren't static but vary over the millennium. They will always change but the rapidity with which they are changing now and the sheer amount of people living in storm or flood prone areas are what we need to think about.
In the past a seasonal drought or famine could be devastating, people would die, communities could be wiped out. Now in most of the world a year or two drought or famine would be bad but we can bring in water or food, we are insured against these small variations in the natural order. On the reverse, in the past if sea levels rose or a delta flooded, those living there would simply move. Now we have millions of people in enormous cities in storm surge areas. In the past 200 years hundreds of thousands of people have died due to storm surges in East Asia alone.
Fagan discusses options for these areas basically boiling down to relocation, difficult if not politically impossible most places, or building defenses as the Low Countries in Europe have done, which is incredibly expensive. This isn't a particularly optimistic book but it is more measured in tone than it might otherwise be. Fagan brings the long view to the topic, knowing that ocean levels aren't static but vary over the millennium. They will always change but the rapidity with which they are changing now and the sheer amount of people living in storm or flood prone areas are what we need to think about.
August 28, 2023
This was an informative read and a subject of much interest and attention with the increasing global ocean temperatures and predicted increase in sea levels due to the warming climate. The author who’s a professor of anthropology presents a survey of the effect of rising sea levels since the end of the last ice age and the impact on human societies both past and present. With nearly a quarter billion people now living less than 5 meter above sea level he uses compelling examples of past and present disasters of why nations and their governments need to act swiftly to advert future disasters. In addition, increasing sea levels and ever expanding coastal cities are reducing the amount of arable land for growing crops further putting many nations at risk.
The content of this book focused on rising water levels with very little emphasis on changing ocean currents and the impact that currents such as the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation may play on ocean weather patterns.
The content of this book focused on rising water levels with very little emphasis on changing ocean currents and the impact that currents such as the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation may play on ocean weather patterns.
July 12, 2020
An engaging mix of history and science, reviewing our relationship with the sea over thousands of years. The author manages to combine discussions of the sea's historical rise and fall with the current rise from the impact of industrialisation, and why our tendency to congregate in large numbers by the sea isn't helpful. The importance of mangroves as natural protective barriers is emphasised. The book enabled me to take a step back and perceive the current changes from a broader historical perspective.
The discussion is referenced and indexed.
The discussion is referenced and indexed.
October 19, 2017
I listened to this on Audible. The content was quite interesting, and I learned a number of things I didn't know, especially about some historic cultures and civilizations. However, the narration was terrible. The syntax was off, and a number of words were mispronounced. Very distracting!! So if this book interests you, read it in print, don't bother with the audio version.
May 11, 2017
I'm a fan of Fagan (I loved The Little Ice Age) and I'm fascinated by rising sea levels but even I thought the book got bogged down at times. It's either a 3 1/2 or 4. If you are interested in the topic I recommend it.
September 23, 2024
it’s more history than it is trying to mitigate sea level rise. while interesting, it became a bit repetitive and boring at times. I read the book in his geographical ordering, and I think that made it easier to read in chunks. you can definitely see his anthropological background, and it’s nice.
August 27, 2013
This book presents evidence to back up the claims the author makes about climate warming and the undeniable conclusion that our rising oceans will claim more and more coastlands around the globe.
What is unpalatable for naysayers is the fact that many populated areas on the coasts are being further developed, rather than previous reactions from humans to rising seas, which was to move inland to survive. We have real estate development that caters to wealthy; who will then pay to build barriers where bulldozers have razed natural barriers? Would these even work? And how will politicians who function on an election-year cycle make viable plans that won't have their payoffs until several years down the road?
This book covers a lot of history about floods and other catclysmic events in the earth's history. It covers the Nile Delta and the Mississippi Delta, the biblical flood, and so many other areas of the past in a world where population was minimal, but now is overcrowded.
Dipping into chapters here and there has helped me to glean a minute overview. I do not presently have time to study this book, but I am glad I checked it out of the local library. There are maps of what different areas of the world looked like in history, and these demonstrate the fact that waters have risen dramatically. One map that blew me away is the one of what we call the British Isles and Western Europe [p. 31]: not only did I learn that these lands were connected with much more land taking up what is now the North Sea(10,000 years ago], but also I never realized that the Thames and the Rhine Rivers would have met at the then outlet to the English Channel. What would have enhanced the impact of these maps would have been to add a third map of present-day conditions to the second map which pictured 6,500 years ago in the same region.
I read the Epilogue through, where Dr. Fagan talks about proposals for addressing the "attacking ocean," and I was struck by the comments of geoscientists Fagan cites with reference to "temporary palliatives." This quotation comes at the end of a paragraph which highlights China/Shanghai filling in low-lying areas, Florida seawalls and breakwaters so that more can have an ocean view, and Dubai's "construction of artificial islands." This last project "in the Gulf region for thousands of new houses at or near sea level" is what prompted the geoscientists to name it "a stunning act of delusional hubris."[p. 235]
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read about this serious topic without having to bear sound bytes presented on television, often in an adversarial and/or political format. There are so many regions to consider in the evidence presented by Prof. Fagan. I am now more convinced of the severity and the proximity of the threat of THE ATTACKING OCEAN than I was before skimming this book. Having it available at the local public library is a plus for me and for any reader in our state system who would like to borrow it, perhaps more than once!
What is unpalatable for naysayers is the fact that many populated areas on the coasts are being further developed, rather than previous reactions from humans to rising seas, which was to move inland to survive. We have real estate development that caters to wealthy; who will then pay to build barriers where bulldozers have razed natural barriers? Would these even work? And how will politicians who function on an election-year cycle make viable plans that won't have their payoffs until several years down the road?
This book covers a lot of history about floods and other catclysmic events in the earth's history. It covers the Nile Delta and the Mississippi Delta, the biblical flood, and so many other areas of the past in a world where population was minimal, but now is overcrowded.
Dipping into chapters here and there has helped me to glean a minute overview. I do not presently have time to study this book, but I am glad I checked it out of the local library. There are maps of what different areas of the world looked like in history, and these demonstrate the fact that waters have risen dramatically. One map that blew me away is the one of what we call the British Isles and Western Europe [p. 31]: not only did I learn that these lands were connected with much more land taking up what is now the North Sea(10,000 years ago], but also I never realized that the Thames and the Rhine Rivers would have met at the then outlet to the English Channel. What would have enhanced the impact of these maps would have been to add a third map of present-day conditions to the second map which pictured 6,500 years ago in the same region.
I read the Epilogue through, where Dr. Fagan talks about proposals for addressing the "attacking ocean," and I was struck by the comments of geoscientists Fagan cites with reference to "temporary palliatives." This quotation comes at the end of a paragraph which highlights China/Shanghai filling in low-lying areas, Florida seawalls and breakwaters so that more can have an ocean view, and Dubai's "construction of artificial islands." This last project "in the Gulf region for thousands of new houses at or near sea level" is what prompted the geoscientists to name it "a stunning act of delusional hubris."[p. 235]
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read about this serious topic without having to bear sound bytes presented on television, often in an adversarial and/or political format. There are so many regions to consider in the evidence presented by Prof. Fagan. I am now more convinced of the severity and the proximity of the threat of THE ATTACKING OCEAN than I was before skimming this book. Having it available at the local public library is a plus for me and for any reader in our state system who would like to borrow it, perhaps more than once!
November 6, 2013
This is a pretty sobering book about our susceptibility to environmental changes, both gradual and sudden. Many doomsayers warn about the rise of the oceans due to global warming and melting of the ice caps. That is a legitimate concern, but with the expected rise of only around 1 cm per year (estimates vary greatly), we have time to prepare. A more immediate problem is that with rising ocean temperatures, there will be more sudden destructive storm surges -- events like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and the 2004 Tsunami -- that devastate coastal communities and give little time for preparation.
Fagan examines some of the world's most susceptible low-lying areas, including Bangladesh, the Maldives, Shanghai, Venice, the Nile Delta, the Low Countries, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. He traces changes to the landscape in each of these areas, showing that there have always been fluctuations in coastal water levels caused by climate change, land subsidence, river delta silting, and so on. In past millennia, rising sea levels were handled easily by people; they simply picked up and moved to higher ground. In today's heavily populated world, there is too much permanent infrastructure to move, and very little unoccupied area to which people can relocate. So what can be done? Many large cities (such as New Orleans, Shanghai, Venice, and much of the Netherlands) would already be underwater without seawalls, dikes, and other huge coastal defenses. In rich developed nations these are realistic, though enormously costly, solutions, at least for the upcoming century. But what about in countries where there is not enough money to work with, and not enough political stability for difficult future-focused solutions to be worked out? And will our materialistic society ever be forward-thinking enough to stop building in lucrative but doomed low-lying areas? Millions of people live less than a meter above sea level, and will be directly, and in some cases disastrously, affected by even a centimeter rise in ocean levels.
Here in my high Rocky Mountain home, I feel the urgency of this problem. When will the rest of the world?
Fagan examines some of the world's most susceptible low-lying areas, including Bangladesh, the Maldives, Shanghai, Venice, the Nile Delta, the Low Countries, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. He traces changes to the landscape in each of these areas, showing that there have always been fluctuations in coastal water levels caused by climate change, land subsidence, river delta silting, and so on. In past millennia, rising sea levels were handled easily by people; they simply picked up and moved to higher ground. In today's heavily populated world, there is too much permanent infrastructure to move, and very little unoccupied area to which people can relocate. So what can be done? Many large cities (such as New Orleans, Shanghai, Venice, and much of the Netherlands) would already be underwater without seawalls, dikes, and other huge coastal defenses. In rich developed nations these are realistic, though enormously costly, solutions, at least for the upcoming century. But what about in countries where there is not enough money to work with, and not enough political stability for difficult future-focused solutions to be worked out? And will our materialistic society ever be forward-thinking enough to stop building in lucrative but doomed low-lying areas? Millions of people live less than a meter above sea level, and will be directly, and in some cases disastrously, affected by even a centimeter rise in ocean levels.
Here in my high Rocky Mountain home, I feel the urgency of this problem. When will the rest of the world?
October 3, 2013
This is an interesting book, although it takes many repetitions to make a point.
The author traces the relationships of humans with the sea. In looking back on the changes in sea levels throughout recent geologic time, it is clear that our ancient ancestors who lived on islands or coastal areas were often threatened by storms, tidal waves and sea level changes. However, these small communities, either settled or hunting and gathering communities, found it quite easy to simply move inland or to higher ground. That option no linger exists: millions upon millions of humans now live in large cities near sea level on every continent (except Antarctica). Many hundreds of thousands live on islands only a few feet above sea level. These populations will not be able to simply leave for higher ground. They are in the path of possible destruction by higher sea levels, stronger storms and geologic changes that produce tsunamis.
Hurricane Sandy, the Fukushima tsunami, and many other storms of recent memory have already wrecked havoc, costing lives and billions of dollars in property damage.
The author stresses that we need to consider these tragedies and begin planning for future problems related to global climate change.
The author traces the relationships of humans with the sea. In looking back on the changes in sea levels throughout recent geologic time, it is clear that our ancient ancestors who lived on islands or coastal areas were often threatened by storms, tidal waves and sea level changes. However, these small communities, either settled or hunting and gathering communities, found it quite easy to simply move inland or to higher ground. That option no linger exists: millions upon millions of humans now live in large cities near sea level on every continent (except Antarctica). Many hundreds of thousands live on islands only a few feet above sea level. These populations will not be able to simply leave for higher ground. They are in the path of possible destruction by higher sea levels, stronger storms and geologic changes that produce tsunamis.
Hurricane Sandy, the Fukushima tsunami, and many other storms of recent memory have already wrecked havoc, costing lives and billions of dollars in property damage.
The author stresses that we need to consider these tragedies and begin planning for future problems related to global climate change.
August 2, 2013
An enlightening book detailing the encroachment of the world's oceans on different civilizations throughout history, from prehistory to ancient Egypt and Sumeria, China and Japan, (prone to tsunami) and the fascinating story of "Doggerland", the now-underwater area of the North Sea between Britain and the continent of Europe. Ocean encroachment has long been a problem for humankind but has now accelerated due to climate change. Historical accounts of encroachment from the Netherlands, (which dealt with the problem with amazing land reclamation from a very early date) are fascinating. More modern sea encroachment in the South Pacific, where several island nations in Polynesia and South Asia may disappear completely in less than 100 years, as well as the serious problems facing Bangladesh and the city of New Orleans are disturbing. The book ends on a hopeful note, with practical advice for cities and countries facing such potentially irreversible threats. One thing is certain: the world at the end of this century will look different than it does now.
February 2, 2016
While a written in obtuse, repetitive and some times hard to follow style, it supplies a useful understanding of the causes and results of sea level changes over the past 10,000 years. This understanding should be a useful base for processing the information being provided today regarding such changes in the future. Some of the repetition seems to have been to just fill space but some may have been for a purpose not unlike telling a child over and over again a message in the hopes they just might remember.
March 26, 2016
A book looking at sea level rise over the course of human history, as well as the current and future problems the world is facing. I learnt a lot from this book, especially on how humans have adapted previously to sea level rise, and why the current trends are more perilous. Anyone with an interest in geography or the ocean should read it. It can be slow plodding at times though.
July 24, 2016
Poorly edited - sentences and paragraphs were repeated in different places sometimes, as though the author tried a few different options but never finalised his decision. Rates of sea level rise (an amount per year) and absolute sea level rise (an amount of sea level rise within a certain period) were cited interchangeably and confusingly.
August 21, 2013
Fascinating look at the history of sea level rise and what we can expect in the coming century... well written and didn't drag where it could be text-book dry. I will definitely read more of Fagan's other works.
July 10, 2014
Reasonably balanced on the subject of climate change, the chief interest of the book for me was its archaeological content -- how did ancient, even prehistoric peoples, deal with environmental changes.
October 21, 2014
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Stephen King?…Bah, Humbug!
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Wanna read a real horror story?…Read this nightmare book that deals with starvation, land subsidence, floods, fresh water scarcity, rising ocean levels, and overpopulation…Horrific stuff…And it's all true!
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Stephen King?…Bah, Humbug!
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Wanna read a real horror story?…Read this nightmare book that deals with starvation, land subsidence, floods, fresh water scarcity, rising ocean levels, and overpopulation…Horrific stuff…And it's all true!
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April 24, 2016
Both informative and chilling.
November 21, 2013
sobering.
August 21, 2021
Sea level rise is coming due to climate change.
This book should be required reading in high schools and for elected officials.
This book should be required reading in high schools and for elected officials.
January 18, 2016
a look at how the rise in sea level has and will effect us.
February 10, 2017
From Venice to New Orleans to Dhaka... From historical examples to modern day. A very interesting read, tackling the question, "How does one build long-term resilience to environmental changes like rising sea levels?"
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