<
https://theconversation.com/nzs-new-flood-maps-are-missing-a-hidden-threat-the-water-quietly-rising-from-below-288791>
"The latest update of nationwide flood maps, to be released next year, will
give communities across New Zealand the clearest picture yet of the regional
risk of flooding.
But as it stands, this state-of-the-art tool leaves out a critical piece of the
puzzle: the water table in shallow coastal aquifers, which fluctuates with the
seasons and, over the long term, rises with sea levels.
As our recent research shows, coastal groundwater responds to sea level rise in
different ways. Where the water table is free to rise with the sea, it does
exactly that, rising toward the surface and increasing the risk of groundwater
flooding.
This maintains the flow of fresh groundwater to the coast and keeps saltwater
intrusion at bay.
However, where the water table is instead held down by low, flat topography,
the flow to the coast weakens, increasing the risk of saltwater intrusion.
Either way, these changes happen out of sight underground and rarely make it
into adaptation planning tools, even though nearly one in five New Zealanders
live in low-lying coastal areas."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
