Tampa Florida: The New Atlantis? Not If We Act Now!

Ah, Florida! The Sunshine State, home to Disney World, beautiful beaches, and… future underwater cities? Yes, you read that right. If we continue on our current path, Florida might just become the next Atlantis1. But don’t worry, it’s not like we didn’t see this coming, right?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea levels are rising due to global warming and the melting of ice234. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But it’s just a little water, how bad could it be?” Well, let’s put it this way: if we don’t act soon, we might need to start investing in gondolas instead of cars.

NOAA’s Sea Level Rise map viewer provides a grim picture of the potential impacts of coastal flooding or sea level rise2. It’s not just about getting your feet wet; we’re talking about community-level impacts, socio-economic vulnerability, and even wetland loss2.

But hey, who needs those pesky wetlands anyway? They only provide vital habitats for wildlife, protect against storm surges, and help improve water quality. No big deal, right?

And let’s not forget about our icy friends in the Arctic and Antarctica. They’re losing ice mass at an alarming rate, with Antarctica losing about 150 billion tons per year, and Greenland losing about 270 billion tons per year3. That’s a lot of ice cubes!

So, what does this mean for Florida? Well, the Florida Climate Center has projected that by 2080, cities like Daytona Beach could see a rise from 1.57-3.31 feet, Pensacola could see from 1.64 to 3.28 feet, and Naples could see from 1.67-3.38 feet1.

In other words, if we don’t take action, we might as well start teaching our kids how to snorkel in the streets.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. We have the knowledge and the tools to make a difference. We can reduce our carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy, and work towards a more sustainable future. After all, we’re all in this together, right?

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. Because the last time I checked, mermaid tails were not included in the latest fashion trends. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to trade in my beach towel for a diving suit just yet.

1. Global Cooperation: Healing Mother Earth is not a one-country job. It requires global cooperation and adherence to international agreements like the Paris Accords. After all, we’re all in this together, aren’t we?

2. Flooding in Low Areas: Cities like Tampa and other low-lying areas are at high risk of flooding. So, if you’re planning a beach vacation in the future, you might want to pack a life jacket.

3. Land Grabbing: It’s no surprise that the smart and wealthy are buying up all the arable land. After all, who wouldn’t want a piece of flood-proof land in a world where dry land might become the next big luxury?

4. Education: Let’s start teaching our kids useful skills like swimming and gardening/horticulture. After all, who knows when you might need to swim to the grocery store or grow your own food?

5. Community Involvement: There’s a certain satisfaction that comes from teaching, learning, and helping. It’s a win-win situation. Plus, it’s always nice to see a community come together for a common cause.

6. So, let’s get to work. Because the last thing we want is to tell our grandkids stories about the ‘good old days’ when Florida was above water.

7. Tampa’s Future: Based on conservative estimates, if waters rise only 7 inches by 2050, as many as 17,000 properties could flood in Tampa1. In an unlikely worst case, with 22 inches of sea level rise, 43,500 properties could be underwater1. So, if you’re living in Tampa, it might be a good time to invest in some water wings.

Quick points:

1. Florida’s Future: If we don’t take care of our planet, Florida might become like a big swimming pool.

2. Sea Level Rise: The sea is getting higher because the Earth is getting warmer and ice is melting.

3. Impact on Communities: This could make life hard for people and animals, and we could lose important places called wetlands.

4. Ice Loss: The North and South Poles are losing a lot of ice, like many, many ice cubes melting.

5. Florida Climate Projections: In the future, some cities in Florida could have a lot more water on their streets.

6. Solutions: We can help by not making so much smoke (carbon emissions), using clean energy, and living in a way that’s good for the Earth.

7. Global Cooperation: Everyone in the world needs to work together to fix this.

8. Flooding Risk: Some cities, like Tampa, could have a lot of flooding.

9. Land Grabbing: People are trying to buy land that won’t get flooded.

10. Community Involvement: It’s important for everyone to learn about this and help out.

11. Urgency: We need to start helping now, so Florida can stay a fun place to live and visit.

BOTTTOM LINE!

1. Have no fear let's work together and set aside differences and focus on something everyone cares about. Food, land, fresh water.

2. People can make minor sacrifices and the USA needs to join the Paris accords.

3. Is it such a hardship to not make things so disposable and ship things such great distances?

4. Roll up sleeves we all want good food like a chicken piccata and tranquil and clean water and land like Switzerland. We can all have it!

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea levels across the USA may have risen by an average of 10 to 12 inches by 20501. This could lead to several US cities, including Norfolk, Annapolis, and Miami, being underwater2. Furthermore, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released a report in June 2018 identifying U.S. coastal communities where at least 10% of habitable land is expected to experience chronic flooding by 20603. It’s important to note that these are projections and actual outcomes may vary.