A series of detailed maps have laid bare the scale of possible forest fires, floods, droughts and deluges that Europe could face by the end of the century without urgent action to adapt to and confront global heating.
An average one-metre rise in sea levels by the end of the century – without any flood prevention action – would mean 90% of the surface of Hull would be under water, according to the European Environment Agency.
English cities including Norwich, Margate, Southend-on-Sea, Runcorn and Blackpool could also experience flooding covering more than 40% of the urban area.
Across the North Sea, Dutch cities including the Hague, Rotterdam and Leiden were predicted to face severe floods from an average one metre sea-level rise. The Guardian.
One lost village, Ravenser Odd, is particularly significant. Described as a medieval “new town” founded in 1235, it was also a thriving sea port. By 1346 it was recorded that two thirds of the town and its buildings had been lost to the sea due to erosion. In the years that followed, from about 1349 to 1360, the sea had completely destroyed Ravensor Odd. Island Review.
There have been two solid millennia - that we know of in recent history - of erosion along this coast. During 95% of the period, there were no factories nor were there internal combustion engines.
Move further round to Spurn Point - the erosion there was visibly happening when university scientists in the 70s were promising us 'a new ice age just around the corner.'
All of this has particular interest to me as our family graves are in the St Andrews churchyard at low-lying Paull on the Humber Bank: it is where my ashes will one day be interred.
Visit Sunk Island along this coast and study the history of this rich farmland.
Consider too, thousands of years ago the history of Doggerland in the North Sea:
You do not have to study Hull and surrounding areas to too great a depth (pun unintended) before the whole 'global warming' issue just looks like ongoing natural phenomena. Maybe Hull is doomed - but not in a mere century, I would wager - it was always a dodgy bet to put a city there in the first place.
.jpeg)