Miami is one of the most vulnerable cities in the US to the effects of rising sea level, which is caused by a combination of warming ocean waters and melting land ice from Greenland, Antarctica and mountain glaciers.  One response that beachside communities do to maintain their waterfronts is to do beach replenishment by pumping sand from offshore onto the beaches. The Verge reported this week that Miami Beach, one of the premier tourist communities in the Miami area, has run out of sand nearby to use for rebuilding their beach as the sea erodes it away.  You can read the story at https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/17/13660014/miami-beach-sand-erosion-nourishment-climate-change.  Now they are looking at shipping beach sand in from the Bahamas or other locations to preserve the beach while they can, but as sea levels continue to rise, it is likely to be a losing proposition.

In a separate story on Miami, AbsoluteMiami.com reported that Miami Beach tried to thwart the effects of nuisance flooding tied to rising sea levels by raising the street levels up above the level of the flooding.  But by doing that, restaurants and other buildings along the road have lost their flood insurance coverage because they are now considered “basements” and no longer covered.  You can read the story at https://www.absolutemiami.com/sunset-harbours-raised-streets-leave-restaurant-without-flood-insurance/#.

Miami Beach skyline.  Source: Ethically Yours, Commons Wikimedia
Miami Beach skyline. Source: Ethically Yours, Commons Wikimedia