Introduction
You see, there comes a time when you have to ask yourself: is climate change only about having unexpected beach days in the UK?
Rising sea levels are a concern for many countries around the world. The effects of climate change have seen sea ice melting at an alarming rate—that’s faster than I eat my mom’s homemade ice-cream!
And, by the 2050s, around two hundred thousand homes and businesses in England may face underwater adventures, not exactly the kind I dream of while studying in my room.
The map predicting the underwater fate of the UK in 2050 has some folks more worried than a bird stuck inside an umbrella, especially those in the capital.
Traditional solutions are like trying to teach your cat to swim— a pricey opposition of one force to another.
There is a special environment agency in the UK. They suggest four types of intervention:
- No Active Intervention or don’t mess with the cat;
- Hold the Line, just to let the cat swim herself in the bathtub;
- Advance the Line involves some fighting;
- Managed Realignment when the cat won, and you changed your ruptured jumper.
Let’s talk about the costal defence. The hard engineering solutions?
Big, bold, and about as subtle as my dad’s jokes. Sea Walls, Groynes, Breakwaters…
they’re more of a financial headache than coming up with an excuse when I forget to clean my room.
Then, there are soft solutions like beach nourishment and dune stabilization, where introducing some green friends with toy shovels to your beach can be cheaper and less stressful.
Some people even think sinking old ways of transport, like trains, will help.
Imagine the London Tube making a splash as an artificial reef!
Can you hear the fish complaining about the delays and shortages already?
Or, one can use an inhumane method to inject bacteria into the soil, letting them imprison themselves and convert their food into chalk, which is called microbially induced carbonate precipitation.
Is there some win-win economical solution to the coastal erosion prevention?
Discussion
Now, let’s tinker with some wave physics, shall we?
The energy of a wave depends on its amplitude and frequency—it’s like wave aerobics.
The higher the frequency, the more energy, and the higher the amplitude, the more you might need a really good towel.
Destructive water waves are steep and close together, while constructive waves are long and as low as that my average Monday mood.
The solutions listed above are aimed at dampening and dissipating the energy of destructive waves, but why not convert it into electricity?
The potential isn’t fresh out of the laboratory. Wave power plants could evolve into wave dampers, saving our favourite pier from an unplanned swim, like protecting the coastline from being a soggy legend.
There are four types of wave powered plants:
- wave type: like attenuators, point absorbers, pressure differentials or oscillating water columns,
- overtopping current: like axial and cross flow turbines, oscillating hydrofoils, kites, archimedes screws or vortex induced vibration
- We also can convert ocean thermal energy
- or use salinity gradient
In fact, wave energy might just prove more profitable than wind.
I mean, more profitable than wind? Now that’s a breeze of good news!
The UK has a special project called WaveSub. The principle here is to use large platforms, turn wave magic into electric power magic, and happily send it over a cable to the grid. Who knew waves were so generous? They even promise to stay visible for marine navigation. Thank goodness! My paper boat racing career line is safe!
Lesson Learned
Converting water wave destructive energy into electric energy could just be the win-win solution. We thought of mermaids saving our shores but trading mermaids for technology that reduces erosion, saves on mechanical damage, and provides carbon-free energy might just do the trick.
Could Michael’s water wave energy turn the tide in healthcare? Discuss wild dreams over tea! 🌊🌡️
Note that the ideas presented in this podcast reflect the opinions of a 12-year-old with a keen interest in a colossal rubber duck and may not represent any actual approved policies or scientific discoveries. Viewer (or listener) discretion is advised due to excessive fun!
References:
https://tyndall.ac.uk/news/150000-200000-homes-and-businesses-in-england-at-risk-of-sea-level-rise-from-the-2050s/
https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/27/climate-change-map-shows-uk-areas-water-2050-2-20725267/
https://environment.data.gov.uk/shoreline-planning
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569122001624
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/06/14/marta-sink-old-rail-cars-off-georgias-coast-creating-artificial-reef/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949929123000025
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2681-waves-and-energy-energy-transfer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zt6r82p/revision/1
https://www.power-technology.com/projects/pelamis/
https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Technologies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN8YoIk0GNQ
Fair use
Materials are used following Documentary Filmmakers’ Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use (Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers Independent Feature Project International Documentary Association National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture Women in Film and Video, Washington, D.C., Chapter https://cmsimpact.org/code/documentary-filmmakers-statement-of-best-practices-in-fair-use/) Unlicensed use “transforms” the material taken from the copyrighted work by using it for a different purpose than the original. Amount and nature of material taken is appropriate (short fragments). Used to illustrate an argument or point (material is properly attributed, the extent possible and appropriate, quotations are drawn from a range of different sources, each quotation is no longer than is necessary to achieve the intended effect, quoted material is not employed merely in order to avoid the cost or inconvenience of shooting equivalent footage). Download pdf (https://cmsimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Documentary-Filmmakers.pdf)
Leave a Reply