NOAA’s 2022 Sea Level Rise Report

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released its Technical Report on the expected rise is sea levels in the next 30 years and its impact on U.S. states and territories. You can find the report here: 2022 Technical Report, Data, FAQs

Key points in the report:

  • Sea levels are going to rise by 10 – 12 inches (25 – 30 cm) by 2050
  • Sea level rise is affected by climate change and greenhouse gas emissions
  • The frequency of extreme flooding events will increase. For example, moderate flooding events, where damage is likely to occur, are expected to increase from ~1 to ~4 times per year

This report is certainly motivating us to look more closely at how we can reduce our overall carbon footprints.

ROV investigating Fukushima Reactor

An ROV was deployed to investigate Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant that was damaged in 2011. The ROV captured images of what appears to be mounds of nuclear fuel that melted and fell to the bottom of the most damaged reactor.

This investigation was the first attempted since 2017 when an ROV was unable to capture any images because of extremely high radiation levels. This year, the robotic vehicle measured radiation of 2 sievert at one location, which is still fatal to humans.

Full article at: ABCNews 11feb22

ROV to find damaged subsea cable

An ROV has been deployed to find damage to the fibre optic communications cable after the volcanic eruption off the coast of Tonga.

““They have a good idea of where the break is. However, their search last night, did not find the cable break. It appears that the shockwaves or tsunami waves pushed the cable away from where it is supposed to be,” the CEO of Tonga Cable Ltd., James Panuve, told Matangi Tonga.”

Full article at: Matangitonga.to 04feb22