You may have seen a few recent news items on sea-level rise and its effects on the coastal erosion of eastern and southern England. Not long ago, I watched Sky News run a segment, where they were blaming sea level rise and climate change. The implication that we must drastically change things and stop using fossil fuels would solve the problem. If ever you end up in a discussion with someone about this, who is lecturing you on climate change and in particular coastal erosion, then here are a few suggestions:
1 Ask them why do we never hear of coastal erosion due to climate change and sea level rise along the coasts of Scotland, northeast England, northwest England and Northern Ireland. It seems logical that sea level would be rising all the way around these places too. Surely sea level has not selectively chosen eastern and southern England. They may argue that is related to the geology and that the rocks are different. Rocks do erode differently and the areas of eastern and southern England are more easily eroded. This erosion has been going on for many years, long before man’s use of fossil fuels. However, rocks do not determine the rising sea levels and certainly not the climate change that is supposedly causing this to happen.
2 An often used reply is that it is rate of sea level change that is the problem. You are aware by now that sea levels are not drastically changing around the world. There is an increase, which is expected as we continue to exit a glacial period, but it most certainly is not catastrophic. You will be able to counter these spurious claims by pointing out that previous predictions of massive sea level changes and “rabid” flooding leaving vast swathes of England underwater have not occurred yet. Point out that it is well past the predicted date of when this would be the case.
3 Explain that any relative rate of change of sea level over normal, needs to take into account “isostatic rebound”. Some studies argue that up to a third of normal sea level rise can be added due to this phenomenon. Hand them a copy or show them copies of the maps below. 
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Note that the UK is not the only place where this occurs. They will easily see that eastern and southern England is sinking. They will also see that the regions nearer the poles show the most +ve rebound and are rising more. This is expected, as most of the land areas once covered by thick ice are now bare. With a combination of rising sea level, isostatic rebound and generally easily eroded rocks, the coasts of eastern and southern England will continue to be affected as they continue to sink.
.png)
Note that the UK is not the only place where this occurs. They will easily see that eastern and southern England is sinking. They will also see that the regions nearer the poles show the most +ve rebound and are rising more. This is expected, as most of the land areas once covered by thick ice are now bare. With a combination of rising sea level, isostatic rebound and generally easily eroded rocks, the coasts of eastern and southern England will continue to be affected as they continue to sink.
Following is a link to an outline of isostatic rebound.
Please read it. I know it will be a difficult read, but the message here is that it is complicated stuff. It most definitely is NOT what the MSM, politicians, UN and scientists on a bandwagon looking to profit would have everyone believe.
