Saturday, April 24, 2021

Twin focus on rising sea levels, intense rainstorms to tackle flooding

Source Website: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/twin-focus-rising-sea-levels-intense-rainstorms-tackle-flooding
By Audrey Tan, The New Paper, Science and Environment Correspondent, 22 April 2021 at  06:00 am


East Coast Park would be partially submerged if tides go up to 5m by the end of the century.
PHOTO: East Coast Park would be partially submerged if tides go up to 5m by the end of the century.
TNP FILE PHOTO
Picture posted by Audrey Tan, The New Paper, Science and Environment Correspondent on 22 April 2021 at  06:00 am
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https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/twin-focus-rising-sea-levels-intense-rainstorms-tackle-flooding


Climate change is causing waters to rise in and around Singapore - and the flash floods that swept the city last Saturday were but one symptom of a warming world.

Climate change will bring with it more frequent bouts of intense rainfall that could overwhelm drainage systems.

It is also driving up sea levels - a threat for low-lying Singapore - experts said at a webinar yesterday.


S'pore must prepare for rising waters due to heavy rain, climbing sea levels, say experts. PHOTO: S'pore must prepare for rising waters due to heavy rain, climbing sea levels, say experts. The PUB is working to tackle the flooding threat holistically. Heavy rains caused flash floods in Singapore on April 17, 2021.
PHOTO: AMAN AMARTH/FACEBOOK
Picture posted by Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, Science and Environment Correspondent on 21 April 2021 at  05:56 pm
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-must-prepare-for-rising-waters-due-to-heavy-rain-climbing-sea-levels?utm_medium=referal&utm_source=tnp&utm_campaign=tnplink


One of the three panellists, Ms Hazel Khoo, director of PUB's coastal protection department, said the national water agency is working to tackle the flooding threat holistically, by studying the twin effects of rising sea levels and more intense rainstorms on the country.

Pointing to last Saturday's deluge, Ms Khoo said western Singapore had over a few hours that day received more than 90 per cent of the average monthly rainfall for the entire month of April.

"This is something that we can expect more frequently," she said at the webinar organised by The Straits Times on the eve of Earth Day.


The threat of rising sea levels: Climate change

Posted by The Strraits Times, ST Connect Webinar on 21 April 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN_KFjbhF6o


In 2019, a United Nations report found that if the amount of planet-warming emissions remains high, sea-level rise in the centuries ahead could exceed rates of several centimetres per year, instead of the current increase measured in millimetres a year.

One panellist, Professor Benjamin Horton, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore at the Nanyang Technological University, noted that South-east Asia is one of the regions most vulnerable to the rising seas. Many island archipelagos are low-lying areas where a large number of people live.

Sea-level rise will also affect natural habitats in the region, said the third panellist, Dr Zeng Yiwen, senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions.


Mangroves are known for their ability to store about three times more carbon than dryland tropical rainforests.
PHOTO: Mangroves are known for their ability to store about three times more carbon than dryland tropical rainforests. South-east Asia is home to large swathes of natural habitats that also help in humanity's fight against climate change by sucking up lots of heat-trapping carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.
PHOTO: ST FILE - Mangroves Swamp at Sungei Buloh
Picture posted by Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, Science and Environment Correspondent on 21 April 2021 at  05:56 pm
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-must-prepare-for-rising-waters-due-to-heavy-rain-climbing-sea-levels?utm_medium=referal&utm_source=tnp&utm_campaign=tnplink


South-east Asia is home to large swathes of natural habitats that also help in humanity's fight against climate change by sucking up lots of heat-trapping carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

Bringing the global issue of sea-level rise back to Singapore, PUB's Ms Khoo said the effects of sea-level rise, coupled with other impacts such as storm surges and the effects of the tides could result in extreme sea-level events as high as 5m in Singapore by the end of the century.


Bringing the global issue of sea-level rise back to Singapore, PUB's Ms Khoo said the effects of sea-level rise, coupled with other impacts such as storm surges and the effects of the tides could result in extreme sea-level events as high as 5m in Singapore by the end of the century.
Bringing the global issue of sea-level rise back to Singapore, PUB's Ms Khoo said the effects of sea-level rise, coupled with other impacts such as storm surges and the effects of the tides could result in extreme sea-level events as high as 5m in Singapore by the end of the century.
PHOTO: Bringing the global issue of sea-level rise back to Singapore, PUB's Ms Khoo said the effects of sea-level rise, coupled with other impacts such as storm surges and the effects of the tides could result in extreme sea-level events as high as 5m in Singapore by the end of the century.
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If this happens at the city-East Coast stretch of Singapore's coastline, it could mean East Coast Park would be partially submerged.


If sea-level rises as high as 5m in Singapore at the city-East Coast stretch of Singapore's coastline, it could mean East Coast Park would be partially submerged.
If sea-level rises as high as 5m in Singapore at the city-East Coast stretch of Singapore's coastline, it could mean East Coast Park would be partially submerged.
PHOTO: If sea-level rises as high as 5m in Singapore at the city-East Coast stretch of Singapore's coastline, it could mean East Coast Park would be partially submerged.
Picture posted by Austin White@MyAustinWhite on 23 September 2018 at 4:11 am - bootifully mellow in yellow
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Now we understand that nature has value, and this value goes towards mitigating climate change
PHOTO: "Now we understand that nature has value, and this value goes towards mitigating climate change," NUS' Dr Zeng said. "There have been many projects within South-east Asia itself that have been tackling this problem, and I guess Singapore is part of that community to conserve nature and mitigate climate change."
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"Even landmarks like the Sports Hub will also not be spared," she said. "The impact and damage will definitely be devastating and, therefore, that calls for action now."


The changes in Greenland, the Arctic and Antarctica influence the weather, they influence the climate and they will influence sea level here in Singapore.
The changes in Greenland, the Arctic and Antarctica influence the weather, they influence the climate and they will influence sea level here in Singapore.
PHOTO: "The changes in Greenland, the Arctic and Antarctica influence the weather, they influence the climate and they will influence sea level here in Singapore. Antarctica is 20,000 times the size of Singapore, and exerts a huge gravitation pull on the waters surrounding the ice sheet."
Picture posted by iStock, Getty Images
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People in Singapore think that what's happening in Greenland or Antarctica, which is 10,000km or so away, will remain in these high latitude locations.
PHOTO: "People in Singapore think that what's happening in Greenland or Antarctica, which is 10,000km or so away, will remain in these high latitude locations. But it's quite simply not true. If you lose that mass, the water flows away and you get a greater rise in sea level in regions that are distant from these ice sheets, such as the tropics," said Prof Horton.
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Even landmarks like the Sports Hub will also not be spared
Even landmarks like the Sports Hub will also not be spared
PHOTO: "Even landmarks like the Sports Hub will also not be spared," PUB's Ms Khoo said. "The impact and damage will definitely be devastating and, therefore, that calls for action now."
Picture posted by BigStockPhoto
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By Audrey Tan, The New Paper, Science and Environment Correspondent, 22 April 2021 at  06:00 am
This article first appeared in The Straits Times.
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Reference
[1] Audrey Tan, The New Paper, Science and Environment Correspondent, Twin focus on rising sea levels, intense rainstorms to tackle flooding, posted on 22 April 2021 at  06:00 am, https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/twin-focus-rising-sea-levels-intense-rainstorms-tackle-flooding


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