Third Journal Reflection Assignment 2022

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Assignment: Third journal reflection
Why is climate change a particular concern for the coastal cities?
Climate change refers to the long-term alternation of the normal weather and the temperature
patterns of a particular place or the entire world. It is currently occurring whole world as a result
of global warming that has led to an increased in the global temperatures and the ocean
temperatures leading to the melting of the snow and ice cover resulting in sea level rise and
flooding (Carnevale, 2018).
The climate change impact the coastal cities through rise in sea level, flooding, storm surges,
salt-water intrusion and erosion (Martin Lehmann, 2019). The rise in sea level leads to large
sections of the cities to be covered by water thus displacing thousands of people living in those
areas. It is also a health hazard in situations where the sewerage system is not properly set. When
the storm and flooding hit the coastal cities, it leads to the destruction of property, risks human
health, disrupts the transportation systems, causes power interruption and ultimately to the loss
of lives (EPA, 2017) . The Salt-water intrusion into the coastal cities due to its salinity weakens
steel structures and other construction and in an event of flooding the structures are destroyed.
The change in climate based on its outcome is very catastrophic. and this information on climate
change is very essential to the coastal cities in that it allow them to make long-term plans that
will assistant them during situations of hurricanes or flooding, it allows the cities to develop
suitable infrastructure that won’t be washed away by the storms, construction of sea walls to
reduce the effects of the hurricanes and flooding. It also allow the cities to develop suitable
rescue measures so as to assist in the event of a disasters and how to overcome the challenges
that might arise as a result of climate change through the development of good planning of the
city, good sewerage and drainage system.
Why is Jamaica Bay important to New York City in relation to climate and ecological
resiliency?
Climate and ecological resiliency refers to the process of anticipating, preparing and responding
to the hazardous events or disturbances as a result of climate change through the modification of
the ecological systems (Eric W. Sanderson, 2016). The Jamaica bay is located in the
southeastern end of the New York City and its surrounding metropolitans; it is a region that was
hit by the hurricane Sandy in the year 2012 and vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding and storm
surge. The costal habit of the Jamaica bay was modified to withstand the climate change and to
maintain the essential ecosystem (Roman, 2019).

The advantages of the Jamaica bay to New York city are mainly; the modification of the
ecological environment leading to the minimization of the tidal flooding that normally occur at
the shore of New York cit. This has led to a reduction of property destruction and the
interruption of transport system. The forces of the tidal waves are minimized before reaching the
city by the modified habitat. Furthermore, the flood water that could have flow to the city is
reduced. This has led to the restoration of the habitat leading to purification and supply of fresh
air to the surrounding. Additionally, one of the major advantages from the Jamaica bay was
supply of quality water. The other one included managing the rise in sea level thus bringing New
York City on the safer side. (Jordan R. Fischbach, 2017)
What happened to the west Pond at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge during Hurricane
Sandy? What were some of the ecological concerns as a result of this? What is the National
Park Service doing to restore and sustain this area?
Hurricane Sandy occurred on 29 October 2012 when the west bond of the Jamaica Bay was
breached making its salty water from its bay being poured into the fresh water. This led to the
interruption of the wildlife refuge (NEWMAN, 2013)
Some of the ecological changes that came as a result of the Hurricane Sandy include: freshwater,
salt marsh, brackish ponds, beach, open water, bay islands, Upland woods and fields (Green,
2013)
The measures taken by the national park to restore and sustain the Jamaica Bay include the
restoration of the native plant communities that are capable tolerating the salt water and floods,
the creation of a better habitat for the migratory birds and to improve the covering rate from the
floods. The other measures are biological monitoring of the birds, vegetation, soils and insects
over a long-period and finally trying as possible to reduce the invasive plants in an estimate of 14
acres of the parkland (Bay, 2018)