How fast are the oceans rising?
Tuesday, November 7th 2006 @ 12:00 AM (not yet rated)
I regularly go for walks along the sea wall and across old lava flows and rocks between Milford beach and Takapuna. It is a superbly enjoyable hike. Any weather, it is wonderful. The water is always blue and you can see down about a metre or so into this relatively clear water.
At high tide I look to see if there is a noticeable increase in water level. I think there is, but that’s all there is to it. No real measurable proof. From what I gather the oceans bulge out more at the equator, between the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. It’s less pronounced as we get closer to the Poles. That’s why Tuvalu is rapidly diminishing as a country in the mid Pacific.
To be able to gather data on how fast sea levels are supposed to be increasing, would it not be an intelligent strategy to have all schools around the globe that are situated close to the seashore organise a global educational project to measure rising sea levels? By having a uniformly measured alloy pole or indicator, placed (set in concrete) in a convenient position at the (low water mark) or high water mark) and have the students study the high water levels, (and lower) over the foreseeable future, and then inputting the measurements every month into their own web site as well as sending it through to a national as well as a global data base.
This would be an excellent educational subject that would assist all of humanity from lay people, scientists and students to get a handle on increasing sea levels as well as develop a rapport with our planet and make us more aware of the changing environment that surrounds us.
This project could be coordinated with the assistance of local surveyors who would be best suited to set the measuring devices in place at the required level. New Zealand and Australia could be leaders in this project.
