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Save Falmouth Shores
My research of the Woods Hole Groups Falmouth resiliency study's sea level rise predictions
Hello
I am a very concerned property owner at Bywater court Falmouth. My concern is with the dramatic recommendations included in the WHG resiliency study that are having current and long term financial and life choice consequences on all of the residents within the area encompassed by the study. Those concerns are magnified by the fact that these recommendations are based on a Sea Level Rise estimating model whose estimates deviate greatly from actual historical and current rise levels and other studies.
As I have stated in earlier communications, I do believe in climate change and the potential serious consequences. I also believe that it is prudent for the officials of towns and cities located along the ocean to study this serious issue and try to plan as best as possible.
However those same officials must realize that the actual sea level rise some 20 or 30 years in the future is unknown and for planning purposes you have to use predictive models. Actions taken by town officials that effect the financial and life style wellbeing of its residents should not be totally predicated on predictions. Especially predictions that deviate greatly for other studies and reality.
I suggest the town due a complete re-evaluation of the present study and its model and time frames, before taking actions effecting the residents. To aid in that re-evaluation I offer the following comparison chart, with supporting reference links.:
NOTE: The main chart is from NOAA showing the actual sea level rise for Woods Hole, which has consistently averaged .115” (less than 1/8”) per year for 90 years.
I have taken the liberty to extend the NOAA sea level trend chart out to the 2050 time frame and I maintain the .115” rise out to 2050 represented by the ORANGE line.
Then I added the results of a 2019 WHOI study that predicts 4-8 inches of rise by 2050 (I used 6 inches) , represented by the YELLOW line.
Then I added the GREEN line to show what the WHG is predicting and illustrating
The recklessness and irresponsibility of this study are very evident when shown on this chart
One last comment is that our area is very vulnerable to nuisance storms and we need to work on the resiliency for this danger
Thanks in advance for reviewing my thoughts John Mullen
