A research project involving ten organizations used a variety of models to predict how waves might change in the future. They concluded that if global warming continues along current trends, significant changes in wave conditions will occur along 50% of the Earth’s coastlines. In some areas, wave height will change, while in others, wavelength or frequency will be altered. Changes in wave conditions will affect how much sand is moved along the coast. This in turn will impact coastal defenses and infrastructure, and possibly increase flood levels.

Key Takeaways:

• Ten different research organization studied global wave models to predict how waves might change in the future.
• If the Paris agreement targets are kept, the wave patterns are not likely to change much beyond natural variability.
• Waves cause erosion and can damage beaches, infrastructure, defenses, and increase flood levels.

“For example, if the climate warms by more than 2 degrees beyond pre-industrial levels, southern Australia is likely to see longer, more southerly waves that could alter the stability of the coastline.”

Read more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190822103838.htm