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The Rising Sea
On Shishmaref Island in Alaska, homes are being washed into the sea. In the South Pacific, small island nations face annihilation by encroaching waters. In coastal Louisiana, an area the size of a football field disappears every day. For these communities, sea level rise isn’t a distant, abstract fear: it’s happening now and it’s threatening their way of life.
In The Rising Sea, Orrin H. Pilkey and Rob Young warn that many other coastal areas may be close behind. Prominent scientists predict that the oceans may rise by as much as seven feet in the next hundred years. That means coastal cities will be forced to construct dikes and seawalls or to move buildings, roads, pipelines, and railroads to avert inundation and destruction.
The question is no longer whether climate change is causing the oceans to swell, but by how much and how quickly. Pilkey and Young deftly guide readers through the science, explaining the facts and debunking the claims of industry-sponsored “skeptics.” They also explore the consequences for fish, wildlife—and people.
While rising seas are now inevitable, we are far from helpless. By making hard choices—including uprooting citizens, changing where and how we build, and developing a coordinated national response—we can save property, and ultimately lives. With unassailable research and practical insights, The Rising Sea is a critical first step in understanding the threat and keeping our heads above water.
In The Rising Sea, Orrin H. Pilkey and Rob Young warn that many other coastal areas may be close behind. Prominent scientists predict that the oceans may rise by as much as seven feet in the next hundred years. That means coastal cities will be forced to construct dikes and seawalls or to move buildings, roads, pipelines, and railroads to avert inundation and destruction.
The question is no longer whether climate change is causing the oceans to swell, but by how much and how quickly. Pilkey and Young deftly guide readers through the science, explaining the facts and debunking the claims of industry-sponsored “skeptics.” They also explore the consequences for fish, wildlife—and people.
While rising seas are now inevitable, we are far from helpless. By making hard choices—including uprooting citizens, changing where and how we build, and developing a coordinated national response—we can save property, and ultimately lives. With unassailable research and practical insights, The Rising Sea is a critical first step in understanding the threat and keeping our heads above water.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2008
4 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Orrin H. Pilkey
37 books20 followersOrrin Hendren Pilkey Jr. was an American marine geologist who was Professor Emeritus of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, at Duke University, and founder and director emeritus of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS) based at Western Carolina University.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 16, 2009
The Rising Sea brings forth interesting information on climate change and the effect it is having on sea level. This is an easy to read book about climate change and how it effects the water around us. I picked this book since I live about a mile from the beach and wanted to know if I would be range to be under water in the near future. The authors show that all life near shorelines will be affected.
The sad fact is that unless we do something about the increase in climate and the melting ice caps now, a lot economic, habitat and life will be lost to rising waters. I just hope the governments get together and create a plan for the future and that local policy makers do the right thing to prevent loss.
The sad fact is that unless we do something about the increase in climate and the melting ice caps now, a lot economic, habitat and life will be lost to rising waters. I just hope the governments get together and create a plan for the future and that local policy makers do the right thing to prevent loss.
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September 26, 2014Orrin H. Pilkey (Ph.D. '62)
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September 2, 2024everyone ignore this it’s for school research
June 18, 2021
Very impressive book on the implications of the rising sea and how it impacts society. Also a must read for anyone aspiring to have seafront property or currently living in close vicinity to the shoreline. Loaded with geographical facts ie average depth of our oceans is 5km, over 70% of our planet is water and much more.
July 19, 2010
Makes me glad I live aboard a boat. This was an interesting look, not just at the science behind warming trends and sea level rise, but also at risk assessment, management and at the politics behind the poor choices mankind sometimes makes when faced with a war against Mother Nature.
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July 23, 2010The author, Rob Young, was my professor.
December 22, 2012
Informative and well cited. An important and relevant book especially to New Yorkers in light of hurricane Sandy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews