Issues and the Photographs

From sea to shing sea, human impact on the border between the ocean and land is ubiquitous and has been affecting climate change either directly or indirectly. My photographs aim to show my dedication to the natural environment by focusing on three issues related to climate change.

The photographic projects are:

Trash - composed of plastics and other waste - while being produced or degrading can release greenhouse gases, and the debris causes damage to phytoplankton and coastal ecosystems that absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. Photographic examples are shown of trash on various beaches (see Photos of Trash on the Beach) and under blue ocean ecosystems (see Photos of Blue Ocean Ecosystems). While Miami’s beaches cannot claim to be pristine, there are examples of beaches worldwide where trash is worthy of photographic attention. The remainder of the photographs in other sections are from Miami, Florida.

       Miami's blue ocean ecosystems - “Blue” refers to wet, ocean, and aquatic plants, as compared to “green” land-based plants. Blue ocean ecosystems (see Photos of Blue Ocean Ecosystems) are also called blue carbon ecosystems because they capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for hundreds of years more effectively than green ecosystems (see Ocean Ecosystems: A Primer). 

Coastal cities built on a swamp like Miami are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. One reason is that warmer air holds more water and is causing heavier rains, which together with sea level rise is causing more flooding. In Miami, sea level has risen over eight inches in the last 30 years, twice the global average. As sea level in Miami rises so do the groundwater and the high tides. King Tides are the highest natural tides of the year, usually happening in the fall, and often resulting in flooding on sunny-days. The combination of King Tides, shallow groundwater, and rising sea levels is causing flooding further and further inland and will lead to more flooding in the future. The increasing population in Miami makes these problems even worse, threatening the people, and the coastal environment and wildlife including the wading birds.

       The pervasive issue of sunny-day flooding - Photos of water reflections create an echo effect of the land that is being or soon to be submerged. Presently, during King Tides, the tide can rise by an extra foot, causing breaches in retaining walls and inland flooding (see Photos of Sunny-Day Flooding).

Blue ocean ecosystems are effective at fighting climate change. They are nature-based, can store carbon for a long time and impede flooding. Furthermore, flooding reduces the ability of blue ocean/blue carbon ecosystems to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The hope is that the beauty captured in these photos will help combat future environmental damage and feelings of hopelessness about climate change. The optimism is that these images will encourage people to take nature-based actions* to lessen climate change, such as protecting and preserving blue ocean ecosystems (see Protect and Preserve and Examples of Difference Others are Making and More Inspiration). 

Technical note: Many photos are in black and white to make the beautiful but threatened landscapes appear more dramatic. Some photographs were taken with neutral density filters to allow for a slow shutter speed; this technique can evoke the shimmering water characteristic of Impressionist paintings of the late 19th century.

*Nellemann, C. et al. Blue Carbon — The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon (UN Environment, 2009).