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Sydney’s waterfront views are some of the best in the world. However, within our lifetimes, climate change will drastically alter the Sydney waterfront.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), by 2100, there will likely be a sea level increase of around 0.21m to 1.06m on the central NSW coast (Sydney is the capital of the state of NSW). This projection does not account for melting ice sheets - if factored in, sea level rise could be as high as 2.3m in 2100.

This sea level rise will have a large impact on humans - an estimated 80% of the NSW population live within 50km of the coast. However, there will also be substantial damage to coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, and industry.

With sea level rise becoming a seemingly inevitable consequence of climate change, it is now up to us to thoughtfully adapt to these dangers.

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Climate change is increasing the intensity of waves in some regions of the world.

According to a 2021 study by the American Geophysical Union, wave conditions near the equator are more influenced by ocean warming attributed to anthropogenic climate change. To understand the situation, one must understand how waves are formed in the first place: rising temperatures and convection.

Ocean waves are created when winds blow along the ocean surface. When the surface of the ocean heats up due to the greenhouse gas effect, it encourages warm air over the top of it to rise (convection). The movement of air is what generates winds, contributing to surface waves. As global temperatures are projected to rise, it is expected that strong winds and wave intensity will too.

Understanding how waves change as a result of climate change is paramount because they have a critical impact on coastal areas. Waves directly contribute to coastal flooding and sediment transport, shaping headlands, bays and the open coasts, and continue to determine the design of human-infrastructure.

Pictured above is Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) in Taiwan’s Yangmingshan National Park. Yangmingshan contains a prominent volcanic group, and this area, in particular, contains volcanic vents and hot springs which make for extraordinary scenery. Because Yangmingshan is close to Taipei, there have been many discussions about establishing a geothermal power plant in Yangmingshan.

Geothermal energy is a source of clean, renewable energy. Because it is near-constant, it can make a great source of baseload energy. However, not only do geothermal plants need to operate in very specific terrain, but they also have high upfront costs.

Debates about geothermal energy in Yangmingshan also account for ecological factors as any power plant would be in a national park. There have also been concerns about efficiency and costs. As Taiwan looks to create a more renewable energy grid, these debates are certain to resurface in the near future.

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