· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Conversation or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Britain faces increasing flood risks, with one in six homes currently vulnerable
• However, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, pushing storm surge barriers to their maintenance limits and necessitating updates and new constructions
🔭 The context: The UK's existing flood barriers, such as those in Thames, Ipswich, Hull, and Boston, have historically protected millions of people and significant infrastructure
• However, as climate change intensifies, these barriers face more frequent use, exceeding their design limits and maintenance schedules, thereby raising concerns about their long-term efficacy and reliability
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The challenge of updating and maintaining flood barriers in the UK highlights a global issue of adapting existing infrastructure to the escalating threats posed by climate change
• Effective management and upgrade of such defences are crucial for protecting communities and ecosystems from the increasing risks of extreme weather events
⏭️ What's next: The UK is planning new flood defenses and updating existing ones, like the Thames barrier, to cope with future challenges
💬 One quote: "As sea-levels rise and storms get stronger, movable flood barriers are going to be called into action more often." (Sunke Trace-Kleeberg and Ivan Haigh, University of Southampton)
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