Title: Rising Ocean Wave Energy Raises Concerns for Coastal Communities, Study Finds
Subtitle: Increasing stormy seas and higher ocean swell attributed to rising global temperatures
Guam News Factor – New research conducted by scientists has revealed that the intensity of seismic waves generated by ocean waves has been steadily increasing in recent decades. This surge in wave energy has been attributed to the rising global temperatures, which have led to increasingly stormy seas and higher ocean swell. The findings, obtained by analyzing historical data from 52 seismograph sites worldwide, have important implications for coastal communities.
Seismographic networks, primarily used for monitoring earthquakes, have detected the consistent thrum created by storm-driven ocean waves, known as the global microseism. These ocean waves generate two types of seismic signals: primary microseism caused by waves directly manipulating the sea floor, and secondary microseism created by interfering waves.
The study revealed that the energy levels of these microseismic waves have exhibited significant increases in 41 out of the 52 seismograph sites analyzed. Over the past few decades, the globally averaged ocean wave energy has been rising at a consistent rate of 0.27% per year since the late 20th century. However, since the year 2000, this rate has accelerated to 0.35% per year.
According to the research, the Southern Ocean regions situated near the Antarctica peninsula currently experience the highest microseism energy. Nevertheless, it is the waves in the North Atlantic that have experienced the fastest intensification in recent decades.
This intensification of ocean waves raises concerns for coastal communities, as it can result in damaging waves, erosion, and infrastructure destruction. The need to address climate change and develop robust coastal infrastructure and protection strategies has become increasingly evident.
The researchers emphasize the importance of climate change mitigation efforts in order to alleviate the adverse effects of rising wave energy. Alongside this, building resilience in coastal infrastructure and implementing effective protection strategies has become imperative.
Coastal communities need to take into account the rising energy of ocean waves when designing and constructing protective measures. As storm events become more frequent and intense due to climate change, strategic planning and investment in resilient infrastructure are crucial to safeguarding vulnerable coastal regions from potential damage.
In sum, the study underscores the urgent necessity of tackling climate change, as well as the need for comprehensive planning and proactive measures to protect coastal communities from the intensifying energy of ocean waves. These findings serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, scientists, and communities alike, highlighting the significance of building resilience and adapting to the changing coastal landscape.
