The issue that is being addressed in the article “Millions of Americans at Risk of Flooding as Sea Levels Rise” is the recent concern of rising sea levels, consequently causing scientists to predict the massive flooding of coastal areas within the next decade. Scientists have proven that sea levels are currently rising due to temperature of waters increasing, therefore expanding water molecules, and the melting of glaciers; this rise of water have scientists predicting the danger of millions of Americans. Scientists argue that as a result of increase of ocean waters, “the US Government’s currently designated flood zones should not be considered stable.” As a result of unstable flood zones, if waters continue rise as little as 1 meter, there could be a potential danger of “2.1 million housing units where 3.9 million people live.”
Ecology is defined as the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. When studying ecology, it is important to understand and acknowledge how natural systems work and how human beings can have an impact the environment. Through analyzing this scientific study presented in the article, the effects of global warming, flooding, and the most importantly the effects flooding will have on millions of people, it is obvious that ecology and its importance plays a role in this environmental problem. Human beings contribute to global warming, which in return results in the heating of the earth atmosphere. Through this global heating, glacial ice has the potential to melt. As a result of glacial ice melting, scientist predict that sea levels will begin to rise. The systematic result of global warming, caused by human beings is now predicted to cause massive flooding in coastal regions and cities close to sea waters; all of the steps that ultimately lead to the massive flooding of coastal regions are all intertwined.
In my opinion, the potential risk of coastal flooding due to the rise of sea waters is a very serious problem. Considering the article, I also believe that coastal flooding is a great threat to the United States economy, and the basic form of society that we live in presently. If sea waters flood coastal areas, millions of people will be forced to find new homes and millions of jobs will be lost. Extreme flooding would leave the United States in extreme economic turmoil. I believe that there are two ways that the flooding problem can be resolved. One way is that, as a result in the rise of sea waters, new evacuation plans be established by the government. American citizens need to be able to evacuate in a timely matter if flooding comes unexpectedly. Also, the government would need to find a solid source of land - establishment for its coastal citizens affected by the flooding, through housing and the work force. The second option is that globally, all countries and nations agree to participate in a friendlier green lifestyle. In living more green, the potential of decreasing global warming could be possible and therefore sea levels would not be so prone to rising and flooding coastal areas.
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