The Back Up Plan

Hanna LongardJulia Parsons

Danny Ross

Philicity Byers

Hunter Vaszily

Mentor: Meghan Brodmann

Introduction

• It is time for Nova Scotia to recognize the change in climate and how this is affecting our coastlines.

• Adapt now, and make everyday changes that will help us now and later.

• Storm surges, high tides, and hurricanes will hit hard causing billions of dollars in damage.

• If Nova Scotia takes precautions and steps back from the shorelines a bit we will benefit greatly.

Educating: Rising Sea Levels• With our Coastal Development plan we are

going to educate the general public on rising sea levels and hurricanes.

• Over 10, 000 years ago we were stuck in an ice age.

• Most of the sea was ice, sea levels dropped 100 meters.

• Due to climate change, in the past 8 years we have experienced 6 of the hottest years ever recorded.

Causes of Sea Level Rise 

• Glaciers and Ice caps melting

• Sea water expands – At 15°C water

expands about 1.1 mm per meter depth

• Nova Scotia is sinking 1cm every 10 years

Picture By: Dr. Lalit Kishore

Causes of Sea Level Rise cont.

Nova Scotia vs. Hurricanes

• Did you know that Nova Scotia is EXTREMLY susceptible to hurricanes?

• Nova Scotia is actually one of the most vulnerable provinces in Canada to be hit by

a hurricane, and we are not sufficiently prepared for this to happen

What are hurricanes?

• Hurricanes are created when warm air and cold air collide over a warm body of water causing air temperatures and directions to change, forming a hurricane(water tornado)

• They are made up of fast moving air and warm water that has been forced up causing a wave or tornado of water to form that can cause 70 to 200 mph winds.

• Hurricanes are not a once in a lifetime thing,

they come annually big or small, and they

cause damage.

Hurricanes• Nova Scotia is not well protected from

storms and hurricanes, as was shown by hurricane Juan.

• Juan was only a mild level 2 and the damages were drastic.

• Since Halifax is continually sinking the surge from the hurricanes will be even more catastrophic.

• The damages could be estimated to billions of dollars.

Action Plan: Short Term Goal We think that our short term

goal should be to cut down on greenhouse gases so people can have a little more time to prepare for the disasters to come. In order to cut down greenhouse gases we can do simple things like walking and biking instead of driving, and unplugging electronics when we are not using them.

Picture by: lukesaagi

Action Plan: Long Term

• We believe that if we move back soon to be constructed houses 30 meters back from the high tide line, we can create a safer living area for humans and our environment.

• We think this because we already know that rising tide lines are creating bigger hazards to hurricanes and other storms. We want humans to be safe. Also, we know that our coasts could be kept cleaner and more natural from this plan.

Benefits• Houses protected from rising sea levels and

hurricanes • Cuts down on debris in water• Wildlife will be able to coexist better with

humans• Property value will go up because people will

not be worried about rising sea levels once public is informed

Bibliography• http://www.gov.ns.ca/cpast.documents.state-

of-the-coast/WEB_CD.pdf• http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/coast/facts_e.php• http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/1

520-0493%281997%29125%3C2662%3ATGOHGT%3E2.0.CO%3B2

• Thank you to Dr. Rob Raeside, Dr. Ian Spooner, Dr. Michael Stokesbury and Dr. Graham Daborn.

Are there any questions?

Lockeport, Nova Scotia

Halifax Harbor Post Hurricane Juan