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Future flooding on Florida’s reef-lined coasts would increase by 16% if present reef loss continues.

RESUMEN DEL REPORTE

Los daños causados ​​por los huracanes a los arrecifes de coral en 2017 aumentan el riesgo de inundaciones futuras en Puerto Rico y Florida

Las consecuencias significativas del riesgo de inundación debido a los daños en los arrecifes de coral causado por los huracanes Irma y María clarifican por qué los beneficios de defensa de esta infraestructura natural deben recuperarse, repararse y restaurarse.

Report Summary

Hurricane Damage to Coral Reefs in 2017 Increases Future Flood Risk in Puerto Rico and Florida

The damage to reef natural infrastructure from Hurricanes Irma and Maria puts U.S. people and property at significant risk of future flooding

Key Points

The significant flood risk consequences of damage to coral reefs from Hurricanes Irma and Maria clarify why the defense benefits from this natural infrastructure should be recovered, repaired and restored.

Maps of Puerto Rico show the increase in annual coastal hazard risk due to damage by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

1. Increase in population at risk due to coral reef damage per kilometer (top)
2. Increase in value ($) of assets at risk due to coral reef damage per kilometer (bottom)

Maps show the potential decrease in annual coastal hazard risk provided by coral reef restoration in Florida.

Maps show the potential decrease in annual coastal hazard risk provided by coral reef restoration in Puerto Rico.

Report Summary

The Social and Economic Benefits of Coral Reef Restoration in Florida

Targeted restoration of reef natural infrastructure can protect U.S. people and property from significant risk of future flooding.

Key Points

Coral reef restoration can yield significant flood reduction benefits. These natural defenses were damaged in the 2017 hurricanes; their recovery would reduce the risks of further storm damages to nature, people and property.

Report Summary

The Social and Economic Benefits of Coral Reef Restoration in Puerto Rico

Key Points

Coral reef restoration can yield significant flood reduction benefits. These natural defenses were damaged in the 2017 hurricanes; their recovery would reduce the risks of further storm damages to nature, people and property.

Continuous water quality station on the Mystic River at the Mystic Seaport, Mystic Connecticut (Site ID 412141071580200). Setup includes top and bottom multiparameter sondes and velocity uplooker.

Photo looking downstream from the Pack Creek Road Bridge shows the rain gage on top with a USGS sticker. Below is a solar panel for power. The other white round object contains the data logger and satellite antenna.

USGS New York Water Science Center Research Hyrologist Neil Terry preparing for resistivity surveys in Northern Minnesota. (Credit: Josh Woda, USGS NY WSC, Public domain.)

USGS infographic on the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck central Virginia August 23, 2011, east coast earthquake hazards and how the USGS is helping inform critical decisions to protect lives and property. 

Full Text Description:

10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE M5.8 EARTHQUAKE IN VIRGINIA
America’s Most Widely Felt Earthquake

On the north margin of the south sulfur bank, which was exposed during the Kīlauea summit collapse events in 2018, light-colored deposits are evidence of the ongoing alteration from volcanic gas emissions.

An HVO scientist uses a syringe to capture a sample from an area within Kīlauea caldera that was identified as emitting elevated levels of the volcanic gas carbon dioxide. The sample is transferred to a gas sample bag, which will later be taken to a lab for chemical analyses. USGS photo by K. Mulliken on August 3, 2021.

I Am A...Climate Modeler coloring page.

Scientists RC Mickey and Dave Thompson from the USGS St.

Spatter ramparts from the April 30, 1982, Kīlauea summit eruption remain visible on the floor of Kīlauea caldera. During this brief eruption, which lasted approximately 19 hours, lava erupted from a 1-km-long (0.6 mile) fissure that extended to the northeast of Halema‘uma‘u.