Issues and the Photographs

At The Edge

These photographs of the natural environment focus on four themes at the edge of the ocean and land: flooding, (1) sea wall breaches, and king tides, (2) coastal blue ocean ecosystems, (3) discarded debris, and (4) protecting and preserving. At the edge where the ocean meets the land, there are places of exquisite beauty that are vulnerable to climate change. Establishing the relationship between the ocean and the land has taken millions of years, and nature has had time to adjust. However, the present-day rapid pace of human-related climate change poses new challenges for nature and life on Earth. The ocean covers nearly three-quarters of our planet and is a nature-based solution to help fight climate change. It soaks up and stores about a third of the carbon dioxide that humans, through burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have put into the atmosphere, and over ninety percent of the extra heat from emissions of greenhouse gases. Thus, a healthy ocean and its ecosystems have the capacity to do much more and keep us from going over the edge.

(‍1) King Tide Flooding and Sea Wall Breaches - Coastal cities built on a swamp, like Miami, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and flooding. Flooding from sea wall breaches and inland from king tides is not mutually exclusive. King tides are the highest natural tides of the year, usually happening in the fall, and often resulting in flooding on sunny days. Presently, in Miami, king tides can cause water to rise by an extra foot. Owing to sea level rise and the decline of coastal ecosystems, the combination of king tides and shallow groundwater results in sea wall breaches and flooding further inland. In Miami, sea level has risen over eight inches in the last 30 years, twice the global average. As the sea rises, so do groundwater and the high tides. Photographs (see Photos of King Tide Flooding and Sea Wall Breaches) of water reflections in flooding create an echo effect of the land that is being or soon will be submerged. The increasing population in Miami and globally suggests these problems will worsen, threatening people, the coastal environment, and wildlife, including the wading birds.

(2) Coastal Blue Ocean Ecosystems - see Ocean Ecosystems: A Primer. 

(3) Discarded Debris - Discarded debris includes plastic, which, when produced or degraded, can release greenhouse gases. Furthermore, the debris damages phytoplankton and coastal ecosystems that absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. The photographs of discarded debris are mostly from Miami, FL, with some from beaches worldwide.

(4) Protecting and Preserving - see Protecting and Preserving.

Rachael Carson observed that “the plants and animals of the sea are much better chemists then men…”

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).