However, cultural sites all over the world are facing a series of imminent threats, and perhaps nothing is more inevitable than sea level rise caused by melting ice sheets. "This is one of the most significant impacts of climate change," said May Casal, professor of sustainable heritage at University College London. Although the drama of landmark buildings submerged in water has stimulated artistic imagination, it is a cruel reality that scientists and local communities will soon have to face. "... the current forecast shows that by 2 100, the sea level may rise by an average of 6 feet. Earlier this summer, researchers reported that the sea level is accelerating. According to an estimate released this month, burning the remaining fossil fuels on the earth will completely melt the Antarctic ice sheet and raise the sea level by 190 feet.
If the situation remains unchanged, many coastal sites with historical and cultural significance will be submerged. "We have to deal with this knowledge and set some priorities," said Adam Markhan of the Union of Related Scientists. International organizations such as UNESCO have compiled lists of important sites, but it is not easy to determine which ones are the most dangerous and which ones are worth preserving.
"KDSP" Last year, climate scientists Anders Leverman and Ben Mah Zan simulated that sea level rise might occur in 720 UNESCO World Heritage sites. If the global temperature only rises by 3 degrees Celsius in 2000, their model shows that 136 locations may be submerged, including the Tower of London and the Sydney Opera House. However, it is a bit bad to predict this worst case in the short term. To complicate matters further, sea level rise may have other unexpected effects. The flood level and frequency may increase and the storm surge may be higher. Tom Dawson, an archaeologist at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, explained that this is a problem because "a storm can completely destroy a site".
Can still have a beneficial impact. Dawson said: "The storm is more likely to cause some damage, but it will actually expose something." . On the coast of Scotland, the storm revealed old houses and even the bones of former residents.
Coastal erosion is a long-term problem, which may be aggravated by rising sea level. "This is not new, but it has become worse." There is nothing we can do about it, "said Toben Rick, an archaeologist at the National Museum of Natural History. Most archaeological sites along the coast are not well-known or flashy, but they have evidence of people's way of life thousands of years ago. With every bit of erosion, we are losing a piece of cultural heritage. On the bright side, some sites are about to die out, which stimulates new creativity and tries to preserve and record them through photos, excavations, ground penetrating radar, land and aerial surveys. CyArk, a startup, plans to use lasers to draw 3D digital blueprints for 500 heritage sites in the next five years.
The success of KDSP will depend on the local community. "The focus is usually on the monument. But the focus also needs to be on the people around the monument, "Casal said. Sea level may displace many coastal communities, but helping them survive and protecting their heritage will also prolong the life of these places. In the end, the community will have to make a difficult decision, whether to protect, relocate or abandon these areas. Here are ten places that may face floods:
10 site in Jamestown, Virginia, 1 (NOAA) The first permanent British colony in the United States is located in the tidal zone of Virginia sea level, which is a landmark treasure in American history. Over the years, Jamestown has had countless cultural relics, from pottery to weapons. In 20 13, archaeologists discovered the remains of a girl dismembered by hungry colonists in 1609. Recently, researchers discovered the remains of four outstanding leaders in the colony.
At the time of settlement, Jamestown should be located more inland than the seaside where it is today. When floods and storm surges erode the coastline, the land itself is sinking. It turns out that a corner of the fortress has been weathered by the wind and the sun. The erosion rate of water that erodes the site is about twice that of the whole world. It is estimated that by the end of this century, the water level may reach 6 feet.
Archaeologists have excavated most of the original fortresses, and it is expected that the bounty of this site may slip into the seabed. The National Park Service has also built an underwater rock wall to help break waves before they hit the coast and reduce erosion. There are also discussions about building seawalls.
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