On May 22, 2014, NOAA released its predictions for the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1. The prediction is for 8-13 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes, and 1-2 major hurricanes. This represents a near-normal to slightly below normal number of storms based on the average from 1981 to 2010. NOAA attributes the likely lower number…
Editor’s note: February 12, 2015 — The introduction of lures to Caribbean fishermen is not meant to suggest that the use of bait in the U.S. commercial and offshore sport-fisheries is not sustainable and should be replaced by lures. To the contrary, lures are being tested as a sustainable complement to the use of bait to…
World-wide insurance industry leader Lloyd’s of London has issued a call for insurers to begin adding the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise into the risk calculations that insurers make when writing policies. In an article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, Lloyd’s noted that annual average losses had quadrupled from the 80s to the…
A May 6, 2014 article in the New York Times discusses Pew Research Center and Gallup polls showing that lower percentages in the United States see climate change as a threat than in most other countries. In fact, the article notes that only 40% of those in the United States see climate change as a…
“I’m totally putting this on Instagram,” one third-grader said as he took out his smartphone to take a picture of the large aquatic mammal swimming along Blue Spring in Orange City, Fla. “Wow! That one is so big!” screamed another student while tapping his teacher to get her attention. Students’ faces were in awe as…
Six graduate students from Florida universities have each received $2,000 from the Florida Sea Grant Scholars program to support their research in timely and innovative ocean and coastal-related studies.
In late December of 2013, FEMA formally announced that it will now allow state, territorial, or tribal applicants for hazard mitigation assistance to include sea-level rise in their applications. Hazard mitigation assistance grant applicants have to demonstrate, via a benefit-cost analysis, that the proposed project will save as much or more money than it costs…
Here’s a word of caution about attributing any particular weather event to climate change. We’ve all seen stories in the popular press about weather events over the past few years, like the recent cold snaps, and how they may be some indication of climate change. In fact, it’s easy to find news and opinion articles…
Sea-level rise presents challenges not only to property owners but also to local governments. Local governments pay the bill for infrastructure such as roads, sewer, water, and electrical and drainage systems that can be compromised through sea-level rise or coastal flooding or erosion as exacerbated by sea-level rise. At the same time, as we have…
Florida Sea Grant demonstrated its commitment to solution-oriented research and exceptional extension, and its appreciation for the service of volunteer advisors with four awards at the inaugural Coastal Science Symposium on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at the University of Florida. Each award winner is pictured with Florida Sea Grant Director Karl Havens. Dr. Mahmood Shivji of…