erosion news stories on Newser

Why Hurricane Irene Is Good for the Outer Banks

Kate Schwartz — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:29:05 CDT

It's counterintuitive, but it's true, says a Duke University geology professor. Hurricane Irene "is just what" the Outer Banks need. In a conversation with the Los Angeles Times , Orrin Pilkey acknowledges the many, many downsides of the storm: "We are going to see an awful lot of buildings destroyed and...

California Town Retreats From Rising Sea

Mark Russell — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:23:06 CST

The California coastal town of Ventura is spending $4.5 million dollars on its popular Surfers Point to "back off" from increasing coastal erosion and rising water levels—a fate that awaits much of the US coastline, reports the Los Angeles Times . The project involves ripping out a seaside bike...

Iconic Arch in Utah Park Collapses

Michael Foreman — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:52:41 CDT

A popular stone arch collapsed early last week in Utah's Arches National Park, the AP reports. First discovered in 1948, the Wall Arch fell victim to gravity and the very same force that formed the sandstone structure—erosion. "They all let go after a while," said a park employee. It...

Canyon Older Than Thought?

Nick McMaster — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:56:13 CST

The Grand Canyon might be three times older than previously thought, the Washington Post reports. A study in Science claims that a river—not the Colorado, but a smaller one—began carving the oldest part of the canyon 17 million years ago. It contends that the canyon-building greatly accelerated 5...

New Worry: Global Soil Change

Erin Mendell — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:20:45 CST

Earth's changing soils appear less able to support farming and plant and animal diversity because of human activity, a study shows. "Global soil change," which is occurring most severely in Africa and Asia, has a heavier hand in climate change than previously thought, National Geographic reports. Degraded soils lose the...

Great Lake Getting Less Superior

Caroline Zimmerman — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:45:38 CDT

Water levels in Lake Superior are down a whole foot this year, and scientists say man is to blame. The world's largest body of fresh water by surface area has suffered an on-and-off drought for four years, but levels may reach an all-time low this summer. Climate change is partially...

Miami Beach Battles Sand Hassle

Sarah Levy — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:21:18 CDT

A new kind of sandstorm is brewing in South Florida. As its world-famous beaches face crippling erosion, Miami Beach is hitting up its neighbors for the scarce stuff. But with most of Florida's communities strapped, Miami Beach, like coastal communities in California and Hawaii, is turning to foreign countries, which...