Author to Discuss Rising Sea Level and its Impact on Coastal Communities during a Special Presentation at Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UC San Diego

Guest Speaker: John Englander, author of High Tide on Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis
Date: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 7-8 p.m., Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Public $5, Free for members
RSVP: 858-534-5771 or online

Rising sea level is one of the most profound long-term impacts of climate change, yet many are unaware of the magnitude of this impending problem. On May 7, author John Englander will discuss this threat and his book, High Tide on Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis, in a special presentation at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. High Tide on Main Street explains the science behind sea level rise, its connection to climate change, and the effects it could have on our coastal communities.

Joseph Romm, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, said of the book, “If you own coastal property or know someone who does, you better read this now! The time coastal property values start collapsing is nigh.”    

Throughout Earth’s history, sea level has risen and fallen hundreds of feet on time scales of many thousands of years in response to natural processes. Today, sea level is rising at an accelerating rate due to human-induced climate change, yet the permanent threat this represents to coastal communities and beyond is barely being considered. Perhaps as early as this decade, coastal property values will begin to go “underwater,” long before the land does. In High Tide on Main Street, Englander argues that while we can’t stop sea level rise, we can intelligently adapt our coastal communities in preparation.

Englander will sign books following the presentation. Guests who purchase High Tide on Main Street in advance from the Aquarium Gift Shop receive priority seating at the event. To receive priority seating, the book must be purchased on site or by phone at 858-534-8753.

John Englander is an oceanographer and geologist specializing in sea level rise. He is a global ocean explorer with expeditions to Antarctica, Greenland, and the High Arctic, and has made deep dives in research submarines. In addition to writing, Englander formerly served as CEO for such noteworthy organizations as The Cousteau Society and The International SeaKeepers Society. He is a Fellow of The Explorers Club, and the Institute for Marine Engineering, Science & Technology.

About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fish and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and the western Pacific. An interactive museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps scientists on climate, earth, and ocean science and features five-dozen interactive elements. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Birch Aquarium has an annual attendance of more than 430,000, including 40,000 school children.

Location: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, Calif.
Phone: 858-534-3474
Website: http://aquarium.ucsd.edu