Record King Tides, Doubled Rate Of Sea-Level Rise Still Not Enough For Some In WA Govt.

[hatrack]

EDIT

At the Port of Tacoma, the king tides on Dec. 15-17 undercut a sidewalk and parking area just a few feet from the corner of the port administration building. The same tides ate away fence post footings and undermined a light pole transformer and a fire hydrant on the Blair Waterway, forcing port officials to make emergency repairs.

Port spokesman Tara Mattina readily admits the port has done no projections with regard to sea-level rise and has taken no actions other than cleaning and repair, even though much of the port’s property and critical transportation infrastructure are covered with red ink – indicating flooding potential – on every sea-level projection map produced by climate scientists.

“The port has not taken on the issue head-on,” Mattina said. “This needs to be policy-driven, and at this point that hasn’t happened.” Uncertainties in climate projections make planning difficult, Mattina said. For example, a National Academy of Sciences report issued last summer and currently regarded as the latest and best word on sea level rise on the West Coast, projected a 2-foot sea level rise in Washington State by 2100.

However, the range of possibilities for 2100 in the report extends from just 4 inches all the way to 56 inches, based on a complex array of interacting factors. “How much is enough?” Mattina asked. “How strong is strong enough? How certain is it? Those questions haven’t been answered yet.”

EDIT

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/01/20/2391109/as-tides-creep-up-some-just-look.html

[medeak]

1. elephant seals had no beach for birthing from king tides

on Central Coast of CA...checked on them 2nd week of Jan and population WAY down