{"id":19541,"date":"2025-03-06T22:48:32","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T22:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=19541"},"modified":"2025-03-06T22:48:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T22:48:33","slug":"hawaiian-coastal-areas-face-accelerated-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/hawaiian-coastal-areas-face-accelerated-flooding\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaiian Coastal Areas Face Accelerated Flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study by the University of Hawai\u2018i underscores the urgent need for flood preparedness in certain coastal areas where land subsidence is occurring much faster than sea level rise.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some parts of Hawai\u2018i are sinking faster than others, setting the stage for an accelerated timeline of coastal flooding. This vital discovery, revealed recently in a study by researchers at the University of Hawai\u2018i (UH) at M\u0101noa, signals that infrastructure, businesses and communities in these low-lying regions are at risk of flooding much sooner than previously predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s43247-025-02108-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Communications Earth &amp; Environment, combines nearly two decades of satellite radar data with a high-resolution digital elevation model to measure vertical land motion and map coastal topography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings emphasize that localized subsidence \u2014 a factor often overlooked in flood risk assessments \u2014 is drastically altering the expected impact of sea level rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur findings highlight that subsidence is a major, yet often overlooked, factor in assessments of future flood exposure,\u201d lead author Kyle Murray, a researcher with the Climate Resilience Collaborative (CRC) at UH M\u0101noa&#8217;s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), said in a news release. \u201cIn rapidly subsiding areas, sea level rise impacts will be felt much sooner than previously estimated, which means that we must prepare for flooding on a shorter timeline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the Hawaiian Islands drift away from the volcanic hotspot beneath the Big Island, they slowly sink due to their own weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the research unveiled alarming subsidence rates on O\u2018ahu&#8217;s south shore, where some areas are sinking at a rate of over 25 millimeters per year \u2014 nearly 40 times faster than the island-wide average of 0.6 millimeters per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Much of the urban development and infrastructure, including parts of the industrial Mapunapuna area, is built on sediments and artificial fill,\u201d added Murray. \u201cWe think the majority of subsidence is related to the compaction of these materials over time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This discovery is particularly crucial as the rate of land subsidence in these areas outpaces the long-term sea level rise in Hawai\u2018i, which has been about 1.54 millimeters per year since 1905. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;This rate of land subsidence is faster than the long-term rate of sea level rise in Hawai\u2018i, which means those areas will experience chronic flooding sooner than anticipated,\u201d added co-author Phil Thompson, the director of the UH Sea Level Center in SOEST. \u201cIn places like the Mapunapuna industrial region, subsidence could increase flood exposure areas by over 50% by 2050, while compressing flood preparedness timelines by up to 50 years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The implications of these findings are substantial. Hawai\u2018i\u2019s coastal regions are pivotal to the state&#8217;s economy, housing critical infrastructure, businesses and communities. Persistent subsidence will continuously exacerbate flooding, affecting urban planning and coastal adaptation strategies if not appropriately addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur research provides critical data that can inform state and county decision-making, helping to improve flood exposure assessments, infrastructure resilience and long-term urban planning,\u201d added co-author Chip Fletcher, the director of CRC and interim dean of SOEST. \u201cThis work directly serves the people of Hawai\u2018i by ensuring that local adaptation strategies are based on the best available science, ultimately helping to protect homes, businesses and cultural areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As coastal subsidence continues to reshape the landscape, it&#8217;s a stark reminder of the urgency needed in planning and preparedness efforts to safeguard Hawai\u2018i\u2019s future from the rising tides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:6px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.soest.hawaii.edu\/soestwp\/announce\/news\/flooding-expected-sooner-in-hawaiis-sinking-coastal-areas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">University of Hawai&#8217;i at M\u0101noa<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some parts of Hawai\u2018i are sinking faster than others, setting the stage for an accelerated timeline of coastal flooding. This vital discovery, revealed recently in a study by researchers at the University of Hawai\u2018i (UH) at M\u0101noa, signals that infrastructure, businesses and communities in these low-lying regions are at risk of flooding much sooner than [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[114],"class_list":["post-19541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment","tag-university-of-hawaii"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Some parts of Hawai\u2018i are sinking faster than others, setting the stage for an accelerated timeline of coastal flooding. This vital discovery, revealed recently in a study by researchers at the University of Hawai\u2018i (UH) at M\u0101noa, signals that infrastructure, businesses and communities in these low-lying regions are at risk of flooding much sooner than&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19541"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19643,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19541\/revisions\/19643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}