Breakaway Walls

Breakaway Walls

10/18/26

“Why do some buildings have walls that break away during floods to protect structural integrity?”

People usually build walls to keep floodwaters from entering an area. However, the water can cause the wall to collapse if too much piles up. This is especially dangerous for buildings people live, work, and play in. But what if we had a wall that breaks away when a certain load is met, letting water pass through without harming the rest of the structure instead of destroying its supports? Well, this is the idea behind Breakaway Walls. Breakaway walls are like an above-ground version of flood vents. Breakaway walls are often implemented in buildings inhabiting the 100-year flood zone or higher.

Ocean Upwelling

Ocean Upwelling

10/17/26

“How does nutrient-rich water move from the ocean floor to the surface?”

Wind can blow coastal water away from land as a consequence of the Coriolis effect. Cold, nutrient-dense water from the ocean floor will move to the surface to replace the displaced water. This Ocean Upwelling drastically changes ecosystems by providing rich nutrients to the surface and cooling the surrounding environment. Famous coastlines that experience upwelling include Northern California and Namibia.

Oceanic Deserts

Oceanic Deserts

10/16/26

“How can we have deserts in the middle of the ocean?”

When people talk about deserts, images of dry, sandy land without a drop of water in sight for kilometers typically come to mind. But what if oceans had their own deserts? Well, in the center of ocean gyres, the circulating ocean currents lead to perpetual high-pressure atmospheric systems that practically eliminate rain production. Furthermore, the rotating gyre and warm surface water prevent nutrient-rich deep water from rising to the surface. This provides limited food for phytoplankton to grow, severely limiting the biological productivity potential of the region. The lack of rainfall and biological productivity result in Oceanic Deserts. Oceanic deserts are typically located in tropical and subtropical latitudes within gyres. Their surfaces are colored a rich blue because of the lack of heavy phytoplankton populations.

Why Submerged Wood May Not Rot

Why Submerged Wood May Not Rot

10/15/26

“How can submerged wood not rot?”

It’s easy to think submerged wood will rot quickly. But in many such cases, the underwater environment lacks the oxygen amount necessary to power the fungi and aerobic bacteria that would rot it, leading to wood preservation. This is Why Submerged Wood May Not Rot. Cities built on reclaimed land like Amsterdam literally rest on this principle.

Sunny Day Flooding

Sunny Day Flooding

10/14/26

“Why do some coastal communities flood without storms?”

When people discuss tidal flooding, it’s easy to think it only happens during severe storms. However, high tides on bright, sunny days can lead to flooding as well. These Sunny Day Flooding events will become more common as sea levels rise from climate change.

The Photic Zone

The Photic Zone

10/13/2026

“Why does most aquatic life live near the surface?”

Large bodies of water have very strong property variation by depth. The zone near the surface receives the most sunlight, therefore supplying phytoplankton with the resources they need to grow, which in turn provides a food base for complex ecosystems. These Photonic Zones house most aquatic life due to their primary productivity-rich environment.

Chronic Inundation

Chronic Inundation

10/12/26

“How can we categorize sites that flood at least every other week?”

Neighborhoods by coastal waters can flood due to coastal tides. In the U.S., locales where 10 percent of their usable, non-wetland area floods at least 26 times a year (roughly every other week, corresponding to high tides) are labelled as suffering from Chronic Inundation. More cities will likely suffer from chronic inundation in the future as a consequence of climate change, from small towns to massive cities like Manhattan.

Freeboard Elevation

Freeboard Elevation

10/11/26

“How can we add an extra factor of safety to create minimum building flood elevations?”

Base flood elevation is the local 100-year flood elevation. Many municipalities specify a Freeboard Elevation, or extra factor of safety minimum floor elevation, above the base flood elevation to make the design flood elevation. 1 – 3 feet is a common freeboard elevation.

How People Use Pumps to Drain Floods

How People Use Pumps to Drain Floods

10/10/26

“How do people use pumps to drain floods?”

People all over the world have to drain stormwater from the built environment. This can be difficult if the water is in a low-lying area or there’s a deluge of water coming in. But what if we were to concentrate the stormwater in a particular location and then use pumps to remove it? Well, this is exactly How People Use Pumps to Drain Floods. People and organizations can use stationary or portable pumps depending on their needs and capacities. Pumps require energy to work, making them difficult to use during disaster times.

image credit: www.streampumps.com