AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Noticeable rising sea level?

Hi, this question is directed to those who have lived in Ambergris Caye for more than 10 or 20 years, especially if you lived at the beach front. I wonder if you have observed any noticeable change of sea level or ground elevation since you lived there?

I just got a book titled "Disappearing Destinations: Climate Change and the Future Challenges for Coastal Tourism". Its published in 2011, an interesting reading.

Hello Kaptain....13 years on the South end of Ambergris Caye, I have not noticed any change. In fact it appears that this last Hurricane gave us a little extra beach....Of course we have not measured or kept scientific track of any erosion.... Hope that helps....

Judyann - Thanks for your sharing your info.

Someone else here can either confirm the same or share a different view?

Folks, sorry to bother you guys another question:

What would you say the approximate sea level difference between high tide and low tide season?

The closer to the equator the smaller the difference between high and low tides. We have an almost indiscernible difference as compared to some place like Alaska where tide change can't be ignored.
I'm not a Global Warming hysteric. We've had some erosion from development in the 26 years I been here but if left alone the nature of a Barrier Island is to grow. "Disappearing Destinations: Climate Change and the Future Challenges for Coastal Tourism" is a book designed to capitalize on the irrational fear of Global Warming.

Thank you Elbert.. I was tempted to answer yesterday but I thought I'd better not stir up the folks who believe in the hysteria. Perfect response...

Sea level rise over the last century was 4-8 inches on average depending on location. Which means some locations saw much less and some much more. You can always find exceptions, skeptics tend to focus on those. For example certain valleys in the arctic regions are showing cooling while the overall arctic trend is toward warming. In Montana Glacier National Park will be glacier free in the next 20 years, it is a high impact area of the globe in terms of warming. It was likely going to happen anyway...the problem is when changes happen very quickly the impact is much greater.

The average rise in temperature and sea levels are accelerating. Sea rise will likely be 2x-3x as much over the next century. This is not the sort of change people will notice in a low change area over 10-20 years, unless they are really looking with specific equipment. In terms of Ambergris I worry more about nutrient loads, acidification and water temps adversely impacting the reef. Yes it is possible these changes could lead to even better coral growth if they can evolve quickly enough...the problem is that if life fails to adapt it goes extinct under adverse changing conditions.

Hysterics and hysteria are pretty insulting and dismissive words to use regarding a global phenomenon that is very well documented just because the impact is less in your corner of the world.

Thank you Elbert....It sounds much better coming from you....

Thanks
I'm not denying Global Warming. The earth seems to have it's ups and downs over the last 3.5 Billion years. Antarctica itself is theorized to have been tropical about 50 million years ago but these are the kinds of things that don't keep me awake at night.
Henny Penny/Chicken Little types are always going to be around.

My puddle in the road is getting higher every day. LOL