"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Earth/Climate science
Flood Risk Disclosure
08/04/23
“How do property sellers disclose flood risk to potential buyers?”
Environments can have all types of hazards, including flood risk. Many buildings are built in these areas. A building with flood risk can change the entire calculus for an owner to feel safe in it or not. Because of this, property sellers should bring about Flood Risk Disclosure to inform potential buyers what purchasing the building will entail.
Why It Is Important for Real Estate Agents to Disclose Flood Risks to Home Buyers
08/03/23
“Why is it important for real estate agents to disclose flood risks to home buyers?”
When buying a home it is necessary to know all of the risks associated with a specific location, including flood risk. If your house is in a flood-prone area, then you will have the risk of it getting damaged or even destroyed by inundation at any time. By knowing what you’re up against, you can stray away from the moving into site or invest in flood resilience capacity. In some places (such as California), a real estate agent is legally obligated to disclose to a potential seller that a home is in a flood-risk area. Withholding this information from a home buyer is not only unethical but can also cost them their lives. This is Why It Is Important for Real Estate Agents to Disclose Flood Risks to Home Buyers.
Climate Migration Community Reunions
08/02/23
“How can communities forced to migrate because of climate change have community reunions?”
Communities may be forced to migrate for climate-related reasons. If the relocation process is done poorly, it can result in fractured ties. But if bonds are kept tight, then events like reunions can occur to commemorate the place they once inhabited. An example of this can be seen with the Lincoln City Reunion, a yearly gathering where former residents and their families of the historically-Black Lincoln City neighborhood of Kinston North Carolina celebrate the place before it flooded away.
Why Housing Buyouts Can Rupture Communities
08/14/23
“Why can housing buyouts rupture communities?”
Disasters can damage a municipality (or a portion of it) so badly that it becomes unlivable. In many instances, a mass housing buyout may ensure. However, the residents of the community may disperse, potentially destroying the bonds that held it together in the first place. An example of this includes the historically Black neighborhood of Lincoln City in Kinston North Carolina, where a series of floods decimated the neighborhood and resulting housing buyouts forced a diaspora to emerge. This is Why Housing Buyouts Can Rupture Communities.
Why Climate Change and Inequitable Systems Will Push People Out of Expensive Areas
07/31/23
“Why will climate change and inequitable systems push people out of expensive areas?”
Climate Change is amplifying disasters to whole new levels, destroying homes and communities. People often have to relocate after a disaster. However, if support systems such as affordable housing and disaster payouts are lacking, then they may not be able to move back to their original home. And if the area they want to return to is too expensive, then they may be forced to leave altogether. One example comes from California, where many refugees from the 2018 Paradise fire could not afford to stay in the expensive U.S State. This is Why Climate Change and Inequitable Systems Will Push People Out of Expensive Areas.
Why the July 2023 Flooding in Vermont Was So Destructive
07/30/23
“Why was the July 2023 flooding in Vermont so destructive?”
In July 2023, the State of Vermont was inundated with floods and thunderstorms. The beams of water knocked down houses, pummeled the state capitol, and even took lives. But how did it become so powerful and dangerous?
The answer lies in a few factors. First, there was an extreme amount of precipitable water in the atmosphere, partially exacerbated by climate change. Second, Vermont was in between a low-pressure system in Hudson Bay in Canada and a high-pressure system near Greenland, allowing it to catch large amounts of moisture. Third, a large cold front came in from the South, which thunderstorms were able to take advantage of. Fourth, the ground was already oversaturated from previous rain storms, disabling its ability to hold any more water. And finally, the mountainous terrain of the state allowed for water to cascade downwards and open floods. All of these reasons are Why the July 2023 Flooding in Vermont Was So Destructive.
Image credit img.lemde.fr
Why Homes Worldwide Will Need to be Retrofitted to Accommodate Higher Temperatures Soon
07/29/2023
“Why will homes worldwide need to be retrofitted to accommodate higher temperatures soon?”
Climate change is raising the average temperature throughout the planet. Communities will face temperatures straddling to new heights like they’ve never seen before. Complicating matters is current buildings are made to withstand temperatures in the previous climate paradigm. As a result, people will have to make their homes to be able to live with their new climate. This is Why Homes Worldwide Will Need to be Retrofitted to Accommodate Higher Temperatures Soon.
Why Governments Should Sponsor Research Into Lower-Emission Air Conditioning Technology
07/27/23
“Why should governments sponsor research into lower-emission air conditioning technology?”
As the climate becomes hotter and hotter, more people will become reliant on air conditioning technology. However, the use of air conditioning leads to an increase in carbon dioxide, further exacerbating the climate. Since people are not going to abandon HVAC technology anytime soon, it only makes sense to develop lower-intensity versions of it. To ensure the technology does get developed, governments can sponsor research into it. This is Why Governments Should Sponsor Research Into Lower-Emission Air Conditioning Technology.
Why Governments May Want to Look into Subsidizing HVAC Systems in Redlined Neighborhoods
07/25/23
“Why may governments want to look into subsidizing HVAC systems in redlined neighborhoods?”
Redlined neighborhoods often become urban heat islands due to a lack of vegetation and a higher density of heat-trapping asphalt and buildings. This makes HVAC systems a necessity in many of these neighborhoods. Since a disproportionate amount of redlined neighborhood residents are lower-income, it might be a good idea to subsidize the cost of HVAC systems. This is Why Governments May Want to Look into Subsidizing HVAC Systems in Redlined Neighborhoods.
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