[hwc]

I used to live in this part of the country. There's an insane amount of disregard for the environment and climate. Yes, new buildings have to be reinforced against hurricanes. But they are still building new houses only a few meters above sea level, as if sea level rise wasn't already unavoidable.

And on the largest scale, there is a limit to the amount of fresh groundwater that wells along the South Florida coast can get. Once they exceed that amount, they'll be pumping brackish water seeping in from the ocean. Then they have to desalinate the brackish water.

But the last time I was there, they were still building new houses.

[deadbabe]

“a few meters above sea level” is still not sea level. That’s a good 12-15 feet to work with.

[KingMob]

Iirc, there are scientific estimates that Greenland's ice sheet alone would raise sea levels by 24 ft if it melted.

12-15 ft may really not be enough for very long.

[fijiaarone]

How do you feel about Holland?

[hedora]

Holland’s dykes are mostly built on impermeable clay.

As I understand it, that’s not possible in Florida, or at least in places like Miami, where the soil is almost entirely sand.

Holland has been creating progressively better soil surveys since the 1800’s, partially to allow them to place dykes intelligently.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00167...

[dhussoe]

Well.. what’s the level of belief in climate change among elected Dutch leaders?

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/05/15/desantis-signs-bill-er...

[hopelite]

I feel that Holland does not have hurricanes.

For context; only the hurricane we have a clear record of had 8.5 meter storm surges. I’m not sure, can the Dutch barriers hold that back?