The Issue
If it were only "one issue." But it's not.
The issues are many and complex and pose an existential threat to our coast. All require disciplined, thoughtful, sustained, innovative, aggressive, science-based approaches to understanding and tackling them. Sound science is foundational to informing sound policy.
Here's a handful of the biggest issues. Tackling them will require catalyzing public-private partnerships and investments in solutions.
Emerging ocean energy infrastructure
As power systems change worldwide to curb the effects of climate change, the West Coast is exploring the potential for offshore wind and wave energy. Obstacles to delivering wind and wave energy include intense ocean conditions, potential conflicts with migratory and other marine species, permitting challenges as a result of marine zoning laws, and visual impacts. Exploring the potential for expanding the West Coast's energy portfolio will require science and data to understand the benefits and consequences of wind and wave energy deployment.
Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal
The ocean holds about 42 times more carbon than the atmosphere. When it absorbs excess carbon dioxide, it warms, acidifies, and loses oxygen, causing impacts to marine populations and ecosystems and compromising the ability of the ocean to provide its full suite of ecosystem services. What can be done to remove carbon? Coastal wetland restoration, seaweed cultivation, artificial downwelling, and alkalinity enhancement are possibilities, but whatever approaches are taken must be done responsibly.
Commercial, recreational, and Tribal fishery health and resilience
West Coast commercial, recreational, and Tribal fisheries are important to the economy and people of the region and globally. Improving our understanding of changing ocean habitats, shifts in ecosystem structure and function, species life history, and biodiversity hotspots will inform policy makers and managers and ensure the long-term sustainability of these important fisheries.
Photo credit: NOAA.
Ocean acidification and hypoxia
Our ocean is changing, and many species are showing signs of distress. Just as humans need calcium to build their bones, sea creatures need calcium carbonate to build strong skeletons and shells. The ocean absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide, which is changing the ocean’s chemistry and prevents the development of calcium carbonate - it's called ocean acidification. As a result of the changing chemistry, sea creatures’ skeletons and shells are becoming thinner or more brittle. Climate change is also the cause of hypoxia, as warmer waters hold less oxygen.
Sea level rise and storms
Most of the damage to the West Coast is caused by storms from large waves, storm surges, and high tides during strong El Niño events. Some studies have shown large waves are getting higher and winds have been getting stronger. Sea level rise will magnify the adverse effects of storm surges and high waves. Understanding sources and sinks of sediment and how it is transported (see next issue below) will be critical to assessing coastal resilience and developing efficient and effective solutions to coastal hazards and sea level rise.
Sand management and coastal erosion
The West Coast has well-defined cells, or places along that coast that are isolated from adjacent coastal areas and that have their own sources and sinks for sediment. Why is this important to study and understand? If we understand the unique sediment cycle for each section of the West Coast, we can take steps to protect and better management sediment, which will improve the health of the nearshore and enhance our ability to address coastal erosion.
