Category Archives: High Seas

Forget everything you know about Middle-earth. Amazon's forthcoming Lord of the Rings series officially subtitled The Rings of Power plans to take even the most devoted Tolkien die-hards back to school with what concept artist John Howe calls the "unseen history" of the sprawling fantasy mythos.

"This isn't the Middle-earth you remember ... This is a world that's very vibrant," the illustrator, who worked on both of Peter Jackson's film trilogies set in this world, explained to Empire Magazine in the latest issue. "The elves are not hidden away in Mirkwood or lingering in Rivendell. They're busy constructing kingdoms. The dwarven kingdom of Moria is not an abandoned mine and the Grey Haven is not yet an abandoned city."

Hailing from co-showrunners and executive producersJ.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, the show (hitting Prime Video this September) takes place thousands of years before Frodo and the Fellowship embarked on a perilous journey to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Of course, the trouble Sauron will one day cause is fomenting in the background of this era of supposed peace and prosperity. "There's a respect for Tolkien that's an integral part of the showrunners' approach," Howe said. "I appreciated their desire to take this material that's difficult to bring to the screen and do something new with it."

Before you squawk with indignation over this claim of deviation, rest assured that the fundamental building blocks of the beloved source material remain intact. "Tolkien's stories deal with self-sacrifice and situations in which we are smaller than [the threats] we face," the concept artist said. "That's one of the more poignant themes in The Rings of Power. The Rings of Power has that with added epic scope."

That expanding narrative purview will take excited viewers to the high seas of Middle-earth, which have never been explored onscreen before. They'll feel the proverbial salty spray on their faces via the exploits of a race of sailing elves, whom Howe characterizes as "daunting, enterprising, and are almost colonizing the world. They were a lot of fun to imagine. It's something neither [the] Lord of the Rings nor Hobbit movies went anywhere near."

Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur,Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Crdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, TyroeMuhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers,Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani comprise the ensemble cast.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power lands on Prime Video Friday, Sep. 2.

Looking for some fantasy content to tide you over for the next four months? Click here for our list of the best fantasy films available on Peacock.

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'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' to explore 'unseen history' of Tolkien's Middle-earth - Syfy

Only 1 percent of dammed deltas, as in the Netherlands, are protected against sea level rise. Scientists report that in a new study looking for solutions to prevent the sinking of river deltas. The team, which includes geographers, sociologists and naturalists, has identified good methods already available to raise the lands of the delta.

In order to make the areas behind the embankments higher, sand and clay are fundamentally needed. But supplies of sand and mud from rivers are declining worldwide, according to the research team set up by Utrecht University. As a result, they no longer reach the delta regions causing floods and land losses. Ideas have emerged in many countries to solve this problem, although it covers only a small area, said lead researcher Jana Cox.

Even with small solutions, Cox says, Earth could stay dry better if sea level rose. The researchers looked at solutions that trap sand and clay in delta regions, causing the ground to lift in a natural way. Researchers have seen these types of solutions in, for example, the Netherlands, the United States, China and Bangladesh. By the way, the delta region in the Netherlands is already partially protected from sea level rise by dams, depending on how high sea level rises.

switch polders

The Netherlands has a number of interesting ways to raise the profile of the country, Irish Cox originally says. She has now lived in Utrecht for five years and specializes in the area around the Rhine and Meuse. Here you have the sewage depots, for example. These two dams are next to each other. If you open the front bulkhead and let the water in from the river, the city behind it is still protected by the second pilgrim. After five or ten years, the land raises itself. Then, it can Use them again, for example, for animals for grazing or for farming.

She also saw such a solution in Bangladesh. The residents there took the initiative to solve the problem. They themselves made a hole in the dam, through which water entered. Now this area can be used for agriculture again because of the sand and mud. The research was published Thursday in the scientific journal Global and Planetary Change.

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Most of the delta regions, such as the Netherlands, are not protected against rising seas - Aviation Analysis Wing

Published:2:13 PM May 19, 2022

A virtual reality (VR) bar is touring the city offering people out of this world adventures.

From swimming with sharks towalking with dinosaurs or a trip into space, the VR Bar lets people liveouttheir wildest dreams.

Trevor Fullerand Sam Markwell invested 15,000 converting a trailer to be adapted for the VR experience.

Mr Fuller said: "You can load up a couple of VR headsets for loads of different experiences.

Sam Markwell, 41, and Trevor Fuller, 46, who are co-owners of The VR Bar.- Credit: Trevor Fuller - The VR Bar

"We started off by taking the unit around care homesduring lockdownto give residents a chance to experience something a little different.

"Wehad 360-degree virtual walks for exampleso thatgroups could walk around historic sites like Framlingham Castle or Ketts Hill."

The high-spec unit has upgrades to make it feel like passengers are racing supercars orzooming aroundon a rollercoaster.

This includes high-octave sound systems and multi-sensory facilities.

Trevor Fuller and Sam Maxwell invested around 15,000 in the mobile VR unit.- Credit: Trevor Fuller - The VR Bar

Trevor explained:"It's really clever how it immerses the customer.

"There's 360-degreevisuals, surround sound, vibration as well as four-way axis movement on the chairs- so the seats will lift up andmove down with air compressors adding to the overall event.

"The whole experience feels totally surreal - you feel like you're there.

"We've seen people gripping the bars and had people screaming their heads off.Occasionally we see some choice words being used - it's very funny."

The VR Bar allows people to swim with sharks, fly jets or race super cars.- Credit: Trevor Fuller - The VR Bar

Now Trevor and Sam are hoping they can expand the VR Bar even more.

Trevor said: "We've been asked to produce a way that offshore workers can be trained - using the unit we have to simulate various levels of high seas.

"This could help calculate a person's tolerance to different wave states or sea states.

"We are also hoping to produce a short training video for people who work at height like on a building site.

Trevor Fuller and Sam Maxwell, at The VR Bar, are hoping they can work with schools and companies in the future.- Credit: Trevor Fuller - The VR Bar

"Workers could walk through a full 360-degree rigged building site and learn to make note of possible hazards without the actual threat of injury.

"We're really excited to offer these experiences for families and festivals.

"But going forward we're hoping to lean heavily look into education as well with interest from schools and companies."

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Norwich VR Bar on offer for parties and events - Norwich Evening News

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seven Seas Water Group, a multi-national provider of the original Water-as-a-Service (WaaS) solutions, today announced the launch of a new brand identity, logo, and website as part of an initiative to reintroduce the companys solutions under the name Seven Seas Water Group. The Group encompasses solutions from all acquired businesses, presenting its decentralized water and wastewater treatment services under one brand.

The new identity reflects our continued expansions, both geographically and into new customer segments, linking our company heritage with future growth, said Henry J. Charrab, Chief Executive Officer of Seven Seas Water Group. Our brand reflects our mission of providing resilient, safe, and cost-effective water and wastewater treatment solutions to our customers through our Water-as-a-Service approach. The three lines in our new logo represent the different forms of water drinking water, wastewater, and water reuse, which together form a complete water cycle for a more sustainable world. We invite you to visit our new website and learn more about our rapidly growing company and opportunities to become part of our journey to provide unique Water-as-a-Service solutions to industrial, municipal, and commercial customers.

With an outstanding reputation for decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions, the Seven Seas Water Group Water-as-a-Service approach helps solve water and wastewater infrastructure challenges globally.

About Seven Seas Water Group

Seven Seas Water Group (www.sevenseaswater.com) offers Water-as-a-Service solutions by providing outsourced water treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse solutions for governmental, municipal, industrial, property developer and hospitality customers. Our water treatment solutions utilize seawater reverse osmosis and other purification technologies to produce potable and high purity industrial process water in high volumes for customers operating in regions with limited access to potable water. Our wastewater treatment and reuse solutions include scalable modular treatment plants, field-erected treatment plants and temporary bypass plants that are used by our customers to treat and convert wastewater into effluent or reclaimed water prior to being released back into the environment.

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Seven Seas Water Group Announces New Brand Identity - Business Wire

A tornado has ripped through Levin this morning, causing widespread damage, while downed trees and powerlines are blocking roads around the Horowhenua.

Two major roads around Levin are blocked after the mini-tornado swept through around 7am.

Police said State Highway 1 between Durham St and Supercheap Auto was closed after reports of a strong smell of gas in the area.

Waka Kotahi also reported that SH57 is closed between Tararua Rd and Queen St due to a fallen tree.

Motorists are asked to delay travel or to take by alternative routes.

Horowhenua residents report extensive damage to roofs around Ohau. Power is out in the area and a thick layer of hail is covering the ground.

There are reports that roofing iron has blown on to train tracks, and locals are describing the pre-dawn blast as "gnarly".

This comes as Mother Nature is set to unleash a full smorgasbord of weather on New Zealand today, with snow, gales and rain forecast for many parts of the country.

Snow is forecast to fall across much of the South Island as well as parts of the lower and central North Island today and over the weekend.

While temperatures in the upper North Island will stay relatively warm, gale warnings have been issued for Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, Manukau Harbour, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Bream Head in Northland to Cape Colville.

It follows a spectacular lightning show over central New Zealand last night, and the stormy conditions continue this morning for the capital.

MetService has issued road snowfall warnings for Crown Range Rd, Milford Rd, Lewis Pass, Arthurs Pass and Desert Rd for the next 24 hours.

Snow is expected to drop to 400m in Southland and Otago, 800m in the Canterbury High Country and 1000m for the central and southern North Island.

"This will be the lowest snow many have seen so far this year," MetService said.

Temperatures have also dropped considerably in the South Island - a high of 12C is expected in Christchurch today, a stark difference from the high of 20C yesterday.

A high of 11C is forecast in Dunedin, 9C in Queenstown and 14C in Nelson.

Most of the North Island has missed the drop in temperatures with a high of 18C expected in Auckland, 16C in Hamilton and 15C in Wellington.

Temperatures at Aoraki/Mt Cook are set to dip to -4C overnight tonight and Saturday.

"We could be paving the way for the first significant snowfall of the year as we round out the week," MetService meteorologist Angus Hines said.

Thunderstorm activity is also expected to continue today after more than 800 lightning strikes were recorded yesterday.

MetService says there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms on the east coast of the main islands this morning as well as in the lower south. The risk continues into this evening.

Large waves forecast

Heavy swells are also expected to hit some parts of the country today.

Boaties near the Foveaux Strait are being warned of high swells, poor visibility and "very rough" seas between Thursday and Saturday, before easing on Sunday.

"Large swell waves and dangerous coastal conditions are expected in the western marine areas of both the North and South Island from Thursday," MetService said.

"Combined waves are forecast to reach 6m for the western South Island later on Friday."

-By Devon Bolger

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Tornado hits Levin as wild weather bears down - Otago Daily Times

Shepard Price,Digital reporter

April 29, 2022

Disney Cruise Line guests will be the first to experience an all-new character meet and greet opportunity across the fleet during Halloween on the High Seas sailings.

In September and October 2022, Halloween on the High Seas will return to the Disney Cruise Line. Entertainment and activities including trick-or-treating, "spooky parties" and themed food and beverage items will be a part of limited-time voyages.

Disney Cruise Line guests will be the first to experience an all-new character meet and greet opportunity as part of Halloween on the High Seas, as Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Clarabelle Cow debut dressed up as the Sanderson sisters from "Hocus Pocus." All Disney characters on the voyages will adorn Halloween costumes as part of the festivities.

The centerpiece of every ship during Halloween sailings is the Pumpkin Tree, which will loom over the atrium lobby, with Jack-O-Lanterns and flickering lights sprouting from the tree.

Other experiences as part of Halloween on the High Seas sailings include a costume party with Disney characters, adult-exclusive venues, Halloween-themed movies on televisions and special-themed food and beverage items special for Halloween.

Halloween on the High Seas voyages will be offered aboard select sailings in September and October departing from ports in Miami and Port Canaveral, Fla., San Diego and New York City. Each cruise is scheduled for destinations including the Bahamas, Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and Mexico.

All sailings from Port Canaveral and Miami will include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island with "special Disney touches" that aims to provide family fun.

Shepard Price has a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Texas and lives in St. Louis. They have been in journalism for more than four years.

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Disney Cruise Line brings back Halloween on the High Seas - Midland Daily News

Garmin has given its Quatix boating and marine smartwatch a huge overhaul, with new features and a jazzy new display.

The Quatix 7 may look familiar thats because its essentially a Garmin Epix (2nd Gen), jacked up with features for life on the high seas.

The display is an 1.3-inch AMOLED, the one that sets the Epix apart from its brethren the Fenix 7, and its a touchscreen too.

Theres a pretty complete list of features for life on open water, including integrations with Gamrin chartplotting and boat systems.

And you can get information from compatible boat systems, so you can check water depth, engine RPM, wind and autopilot control.

And there are new features too. The Quatix 7 has anchor drag alarms, tide alerts, and takes advantage of the multi-band GNSS from the Fenix 7/Epix range for more accurate location data.

Whats more, the Quatix 7 Solar gets the flashlight feature from the Fenix 7X.

Battery life has been beefed up, and youll get 18 days in smartwatch mode as standard. Sapphire models get 16 days. The Solar model ups that to 37 days of in smartwatch mode, or up to 90 days in battery saver mode.

Its also a pretty complete GPS sports watch, when youre not at sea.

Theres multi-band GNSS support over 30 sport profiles, with running, swimming, cycling and HIIT all on the list. Golf is on the list with 42,000 courses supported, as is skiing which uses SkiView maps.

And there's the usual array of Garmin health smarts, including stress monitoring, body battery, sleep tracking and 24/7 heart rate.

And it brings Garmins full range of smart features, such as Garmin Pay and support for the offline syncing of Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer.

The standard Quatix 7 starts at $699.99, rising to $1,199.99 for Solar.

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Garmin launches Quatix 7 for life on the high seas - Wareable

The Beckhams do it. Jeff Bezos does it. Leonardo DiCaprio even did it last month. Chartering a yacht has become many celebrities favorite way to get away from it all, whether lounging on sunbeds or snorkeling remote atolls. According to Fraser Yachts 2021 market report, there are around 2,900 yachts available for charter in the world today. The global charter fleet keeps on growing, which means there is a charter-yacht vacation out there to suit everyone.

Ranging from 80- to over 450 feet, from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean to the South Pacific, elegant sailing yachts, high-performance motoryachts, explorer yachts with expansive deck spaces and award-winning gigayachts with armadas of water toys are available.

If youve never dipped your toe in the charter waters before, let us walk you through the need-to-know details of how to charter a yacht successfully and have the time of your life.

The biggest question for first-time charterers is where to begin. The tried-and-tested method is to engage the help of a reputable charter broker. Its their job to understand what you would like to get from the charter and then matchmake your preferences with the most suitable yacht.

Engaging a professional charter broker is free and they are key to ensuring your holiday is stress-free, Alexandra Groom, charter broker at Worth Avenue Yachts, told Robb Report. Professional charter brokers have access to exclusive databases with stringent membership, communication and ethics rules, meaning they are most likely to be able to find you the right yacht in the right location, even if what you require is off market.

Make sure your broker gets to know you and your family, adds Nick Trotter, chairman of the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Associations (MYBA) charter committee. Finding the right broker is often via word of mouth, so ask your friends, ask people you trust, find out what theyve done and who theyve done it with. The communication between you and your broker is paramount because the broker represents you, theyre acting on your behalf, so you need to be able to articulate your vision.

Neal Hornsby, co-founder and CEO of Yomira, advocates finding out about your brokers eco-credentials, too: Can they offset your carbon footprint from the charter, teach the kids about the marine environment or perhaps involve you in local conservation projects if you are keen to participate during your time aboard? The right broker for you is the broker that you not only connect with, but most importantly has the credibility to back up their advice.

You can find a listing of charter brokers and companies that adhere to global guidelines at theMYBA, the yachting industrys technical and ethics guide, as well as that of theInternational Yacht Brokers Association.

For those who feel safer behind a screen, several different online platforms, such asAhoy Club, Yotha and Borrow a Boat allow you to scroll and book your yacht. This flexible approach embraces a younger generation of digitally minded charterers. That said, hailing a $10 taxi ride with Uber is much less risky than booking a $500,000 charter on your iPhone. So be sure you have contact info for a live human in case anything goes wrong on your charter vacation.

Equally as important when choosing a yacht is making sure the crew are a good fit. If you have children in tow, youll want a family-friendly crew who can keep them entertained. If youre traveling with a group of active friends, having crew who double as watersports instructors is a great benefit. Or maybe youve been dreaming of a gastronomic itinerary that features a Michelin-caliber chef on board? A broker will go over all your options. June Montagne, charter consultant at IYC, recommends requesting references on the crew prior to making your final decision. Your crew are far more important than your yacht, she told Robb Report.

An important element of any charter is knowing where you would like to vacation. This will also heavily influence the yacht that you end up chartering. Different yachts are based in different locations and usually move throughout the year, so if you have your heart set on experiencing Lady Es brand-new beach club for spring break, youll be cruising the Indian Ocean. If youre more interested in exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites along Croatias coastline, then GECO, which cruises the Eastern Mediterranean in summer, would be a smart option.

Decide on your groups makeup and whether or not you have a particular destination in mind, Katya Hall, IYC sales and charter consultant, told Robb Report. Its fine if you dontyour broker will propose yachts in multiple locations and walk you through highlights of every destination.

The most common migration is the Mediterranean in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter. However, you will also find yachts cruising the waters of Central and South America, Antarctica, the Pacific islands, Northern Europe and even Costa Rica. In 2021, the Amalfi Coast in Italy and the Greek islands were among the most popular summer charter destinations.

Most yachts carry the basic water toys and tenders for being towed and simple snorkeling exploration. But some yachts carry specific equipment, from personal submarines, decompression chambers for scuba diving, inflatable slides and even Hammam saunas and snow rooms. Does your charter have a theme? Or maybe you want to celebrate a birthday? Just be sure the yacht caters for your needs, whether planning a party with a DJ or hosting a business meeting.

A yacht charter opens up destinations in ways that staying in a hotel cant, says Groom. Instead of being restricted by transport links and journey times, you can start at one part of a coastline and end at another, taking in multiple islands, villages or bays in one short week, all from the comfort of your yacht. Even if a particular coastline is new to you, your captain will ensure that your trip focuses on the elements that are most important to you.

If you want to keep the yacht on the move, its speed, size, draft depth and flag will determine how many stops you can make. For example, cruising in the Bahamas requires a shallow draft if you want to visit out islands like the Exumas, though plenty of ports have deeper waters.

A yacht with stabilizers is key for first time charterers if they havent experienced the sea before, advises Lotte Barker-Hahlo, charter broker at Burgess.

The duration of the trip and number of guests is another consideration. One week for family and a second week for friends? Or maybe youre planning a three-week itinerary to island hop your way around the Florida Keys. Charter brokers usually list pricings per week and most charter yachts are certified to carry 12 guests, plus crew. If you plan to vacation with more than that, you will need a PYC- or SOLAS-class yacht, which is licensed for up to 36 passengers. Yachts such as 278-foot Victorious, an explorer vessel capable of circumnavigating the world, has 12 staterooms for 24 guests plus crew.

Guest cabin configurations tend to be varied and flexible. The principal (person who booked the charter) will typically take the master suite. But yachts with large VIPs, cabins with bunks designed for kids, and twin cabins with a Pullman bed make sleeping arrangements tailored to suit your group easy. Dont forget to include in your count any personal assistants, babysitters or other security guards. And if anyone in your party has concerns about limited mobility, factoring an elevator or stair-climber into your criteria early on is a must.

Once youve identified which yacht you prefer in your chosen destination, be sure not to leave booking until the last minute. Just like any other vacation, chartering over the summer holidays, Christmas and popular events such as the Monaco Grand Prix makes for the high-demand season.

Only book when youre ready! says Hornsby.But as with any holiday periods, July/August and Christmas/New Year are always in high demand so an early conversation with your broker is recommended. There are always some great deals to be done in the quieter months, but lead-in time is key, particularly as we emerge from a Covid world.

In 2021, Fraser Yachts reported an increase of 56 percent in bookings across their charter fleet compared to the previous year, as well as a slight increase in the number of tandem chartersclients chartering two yachts simultaneously so more of the family could be together. Booking your charter at the last minute could mean youre unable to secure your first, second or even third preference. If the timing and the yacht are both important, book a year in advance. If you are flexible with both dates and the yacht, most brokers can find a yacht for you.

Privacy and discretion form the backbone of yachting. Builders usually dont share who the owner of a yacht is, nor do the brokers or crew. If you have concerns about the confidentiality of high-profile guests during your charter, requesting your charter broker to sign an NDA is an option. As with all elements of a bespoke yacht charter, the choice is yours, from dietary needs and favorite cocktails to service etiquette and daily activities.

If you or your travel partners are inclined to remain plugged in, most yachts feature high-speed Wi-Fi, allowing you to keep in touch as much or as little as you would like. For those keen to get out and explore, options range from shopping for local artisan goods, taking a cooking class or dropping anchor in one cove all day to dive and fish. Its up to you how you spend your time, just be sure to give the crew a heads-up so they know what to be prepared for.

The final step is the contract. Most brokers use the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Associations (MYBA) contract or something similar. All these decisions lead down to the bottom line: How much does it cost?

Ask for all expenses involved, says Montagne. Does the charter fee include expenses or are they are additional? Is there any tax or VAT payable? What percentage is acceptable in the area you will be chartering? What about liability and trip cancellation insurance? All these points need to be considered.

As an example, for the 2021 summer season, the 160-foot Rossinavi EIV superyacht, with five cabins and nine crew chartered in the Mediterranean from approximately $280,000 per week. The overall price varies with fuel consumption (staying in port or cruising), location (France or Greece), the number of people you are traveling with, food and drink, as well as activities. Adding in food and drink; expenses for docking, fuel and other fees; and tips will tack roughly 30 to 50 percent of the charter rate to your trip. So, if you were onEIVfor a week last summer, it most likely cost you between $364,000 and $420,000 depending on how often the yacht moved, how many bottles of ros you went through, and what kind of gratuity you left the crew for your incredible stay on board.

When it comes to costs, the size of the yacht matters. A smaller yacht will cost less, while the 446-foot Flying Fox, one of the largest charter yachts on the market accommodating 25 guests and with an unprecedented 4,300-square-foot two-floor spa, charters from around $3,400,000 per week.

Certain destinations, such as Patagonia or Kamchatka, may bring a different set of fees if you intend on heli-skiing, while heavily protected locations like Antarctica and the Galapagos require permits confirmed in advance. Wherever you cruise, you will heavily rely on the knowledge, professionalism and help of the crew, so it goes without saying that the service tip is a crucial fee that should factor into your expenses.

MYBA suggests five to 15 percent as customary, though its left up to your discretion to reward an exceptional crew with a larger amount if you think thats fair, or a smaller amount if the service hasnt been up to par. In terms of how to hand the tip over, standard procedure is to leave the gratuity with the captain at the end of your stay so he or she can divvy among the various crew members you may or may not have seen, based on their duties.

All thats left is to prepare to have a vacation of your lifetime. There is nothing that compares to spending time on the water with your family and friends, says Hall. Its about enjoying watersports, having exquisite meals and discovering magical spots of the world along the way.

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How to Charter a Superyacht: Everything You Need to Know About Booking a High-Seas Vacation - Robb Report

Analysis: aside from climate change, local exacerbating factors are behind rising sea levels in Irish coastal cities

By Gerard McCarthy, Katherine Dooley, Amin Shoari Nejad, Andrew Parnell, Maynooth University and Zoe Roseby, Trinity College Dublin

Most Irish cities are coastal, with 40% of the population within 5km of the coast. Recent flooding reinforces the need to understand how sea levels are changing around Ireland. Galway has become the place to be for journalists reporting on impending rough weather of late and we have become familiar with images of waves reaching forgotten cars on Salthill prom.

Future sea levels around the Irish coast depend on a combination of global and local factors. Global sea level rise is driven by climate change with another 1m of sea level rise predicted by 2150, if greenhouse gas reductions fall short of targets. However, new research has shown sea level rise in Dublin and Cork greater than expected from climate change alone, pointing to local exacerbating factors that need to be understood.

In October 2017 the nation braced itself for the arrival of ex-hurricane Ophelia. The tightly wound tropical-esque storm was a contrast to the looser cyclones that traditionally lash the west coast. When Ophelia hit, the winds rose, as did the seas. Waves and storm surged along the west coast, flooding Galway. The level the seas rise to above that of the regular tide is called storm surge and Ophelia was the largest storm surge recorded by modern measurements in Galway at 1.6 m above the tide.

Galway is the textbook case for coastal flooding in Ireland: the biggest storms lead to the biggest surges, which subsequently have a high impact on a city built by the Atlantic's edge. High sea levels at the coast are a combination of factors: not only storm surges but also the tide.

While Ophelia was the highest storm surge, it was not the highest total sea level. That honour goes to Storm Eleanor that hit in early January 2018, when water levels in Galway rose to 3.7 m as the storm surge coincided with spring tides. For context, this is about 1 m above the base of the famous Spanish Arch in the city. The resultant flooding from Storm Eleanor was severe throughout the city.

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From RT Radio 1's Morning Ireland in 2018, Cian McCormack reports from Galway city, which suffered severe flooding as Storm Eleanor swept in off the Atlantic

Sea level rise in Dublin should be the easiest case to describe as it is the longest record of sea level in the Republic. However, new research has revisited Dublin's sea level records to investigate high rates of sea level rise that have been observed there. Recent sea level rise is faster than expected at approximately double the rate of global sea level rise.

The study compared sea level records for Dublin with other Irish and international records. The Dublin record had in recent years been viewed sceptically due to questions about data quality. In response to this, the Dublin record was calibrated by adjusting biased high water measurements that affect the overall calculation of average sea level. The confirmation of high rates of sea level risealready built into Dublin's climate action plandoes not yet unearth the cause of this rapid rise.

Unusually high sea level rise in Ireland is not the preserve of the capital. A 2021 study in the journal Ocean Science looked at sea level rise in Cork since 1842 and found that relative sea levels had risen by over 40 cm, nearly 50% more than the 27 cm expected for the region.

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From RT Archives, Carole Coleman reports for RT News in 1997 on a project to enable meteorologists and scientists to predict where floods will occur across Ireland

Higher rates of relative sea level rise are expected in the southwest of Ireland due to Glacial Isostatic Adjustment whereby the removal of large ice sheets that covered Ireland during the last ice age causes land subsidence in the southwest and land uplift in the northeast of Ireland. However, models of this effect still leave nearly 20% of sea level rise in Cork unaccounted for. This could be due to local subsidence in Cork Harbour due to manmade or natural factors, or a wider signal of subsidence along the northwest European shelf, or the models for Glacial Isostatic Adjustment could be inaccurate.

These two reports point to an important question for both Cork and Dublin: what are the local factors causing higher than expected sea level rise? Understanding this is key to adjust future climate projections of sea level rise for use in local adaptation.

In the future, tides will continue to rise and fall in line with the orbits of the celestial bodies. The future of storms remains uncertain, but the critical future factor will be mean or average sea level. This will rise as the oceans swell with meltwater from land ice, such as glaciers and the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and as seawater expands due to warming. While warming waters were the largest single factor in sea level rise in the 20th century, melting land ice is likely to be largest single factor entering the 21st century.

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From RT Six One News, flooding in Cork as Storm Barra hits in December 2021

The 2021 Intergovernmental panel for Climate change report estimates a 1m sea level rise by 2150 under a moderate greenhouse gas trajectory. This would put the floodline of another Storm Eleanor at 2m above the base of the Spanish Arch in Galway. The arch that survived the Lisbon tsunami of 1755 has seen extreme seas before, but the devastation to homes, businesses and places of historical, cultural and personal significance will be severe if this scenario comes to pass.

The estimate of 1m of sea level rise by 2150 will differ depending on the future trajectories of greenhouse gas emissions. These are described by socioeconomic pathways and range from a sea level rise prediction based on a 'green world, up to the scenario that fossil fuel exploitation and usage was to dramatically increase.

Due to the actions being taken globally and locally on climate action, sea level rise based on the highest emission scenario is unlikely. In order to reach that level, high fossil fuel development worldwide throughout the 21st century would be required, whereas action taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has thankfully already begun.

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From RT Radio 1's Today with Sean O'Rourke in 2019, Prof Peter Thorne from Maynooth University on how Dublin and other coastal cities face devastating floods due to rising sea levels

However, we would also not put forward the green world lowest emission scenario. This would require global emissions to be cut to net zero by 2050, while Ireland and many other countries have not met their pledges on emissions to date. It was found that Ireland was only 7% below 2005 levels despite pledging to be 20% below 2005 levels by the year 2020.

As a result, we consider sea level projections associated with a moderate greenhouse gas trajectory (known as SSP2-4.5) to best represent our current trajectory. This future is yet to be written, though, and better understanding of changing local Irish sea levels that allows effective adaptation in concert with action on climate change will effectively lower the line of future sea level.

Dr Gerard McCarthy is an Associate Professor at the ICARUS climate centre and Department of Geography at Maynooth University. Katherine Dooley is an MSc in Climate Change graduate from Maynooth University. Amin Shoari Nejad is a PhD student in the Hamilton Institute and ICARUS climate centre at Maynooth University. Prof Andrew Parnell is a Professor of Statistics at the Hamilton Institute at Maynooth University. Dr Zoe Roseby is a postdoctoral researcher in Department of Geology at TCD.

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RT

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Why sea levels are rising higher than expected in Dublin and Cork - RTE.ie

Could China defeat a Great Wall in Reverse? Suppose General David Berger, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, gets his way and transforms the corps into an island-hopping, missile-toting force able to transmute the first island chain into a Great Wall in reversea barricade against sea and air movement between the China seas and the Western Pacific. Chinese Communist Party magnates might be deterred for a time from misadventures in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, or East China Sea, but they would not meekly acquiesce in their imprisonment within coastal waters. After all, China must take to the high seas to make its dream of national rejuvenation come true. The leadership sees compelling economic, military, and diplomatic reasons to make Chinas weight felt in world affairs.

All of these demand access to the high seas. All demand that Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) commanders devise some way to rupture the allied Great Wall.

What are Beijings options? Well, military overseers must first decide whether to undertake a broad or narrow offensive against the east wall. According to strategist Edward Luttwak, the choice between a broad or narrow offensive is the pivotal choice in theater strategy. In other words, PLA forces could act all along the first island chain more or less simultaneously in hopes of battering down what could be a thinly guarded perimeter. They could disperse forces in space while concentrating multiple offensives at the same time in hopes of scoring a breakthrough somewhere along the line. Coordination among these offensives would be at a premium to ensure they took place at once, preventing island defenders from shifting from side to side to reinforce one another at points of impact.

Or Chinas commanders could leave token forces along the line to fix allied defenders in place, then, probably after feinting somewhere else along the island chain, mass combat power to launch a single massive blow at the wall. They could take advantage of what Carl von Clausewitz calls cordon-warfare, meaning trying to hold a distended line against a foe that enjoys the option of hurling most or all of its might against one sector of the line. Mathematicians describe a line as infinitely many points arranged in succession. That conveys the scope of the problem. Its hard to be stronger than an antagonist at infinitely many points on the map. The attempt stretches and thins out the defense, potentially leaving it inferior to an antagonist at any one point.

That being the case, Clausewitz warns against trying to guard long perimeters. Commanders should keep the line as short as possiblealthough thats not really an option along the first island chain. After all, the islands are where the islands are. If forced to mount such a defense, Clausewitz counsels defenders to make sure they can supply fire support all along the line. This constitutes the difference-maker for sentries patrolling the ramparts. For him fire support meant cannon artillery; today it means ordnance delivered from sea, air, and ground forces, chiefly by guided missiles and other precision armaments.

So the first and paramount decision before PLA commanders and their political masters is: broad or narrow?

Suppose the verdict is to launch a narrow-front offensive while holding elsewhere. The hammer could fall at a number of candidate sites. PLA commanders would need to decide whether to force the straits that allow egress into the Western Pacific, confining the effort to water, or to overrun an island or two overlooking one of the straits. In the ideal case they would opt to seize ground, assuming Beijing were confident in its as-yet-untried capability for amphibious warfare. That would let the PLA harness the logic of island-chain defense, emplacing its own missile-armed forces on the islands to help clear nearby waters and skies of defenders and threaten allied forces elsewhere along the island chain. It would break the chain at least temporarily.

But, as is commonly the case in martial affairs, the circumstances are far from ideal. Two favorite PLA Navy avenues into the Western Pacific are Miyako Strait, flanked by Okinawa to the north, and the Luzon Strait, flanked by Taiwan to the north and the Philippine island of Luzon to the south. Its hard to envision PLA marines storming the beaches of Okinawa, an island that plays home to powerful U.S. and Japanese forces. Invading Okinawa has been tried before, at sanguinary cost to the invaders and defenders. Its also hard to imagine their assaulting Luzon, an island of major dimensions that has witnessed its share of bitter insurgencies over the past century-plus. So Chinese commanders might satisfice by grabbing one island adjoining one of these waterways, or settle for some more distant position that still lies within missile reach of contested waters.

If PLA amphibian forces could punch through the island barrier, they could create what the English soldier B. H. Liddell Hart called an expanding torrent through an enemy defense-in-depth. In other words, the PLA would spill through a breach into the Western Pacific en masse. The danger of expanding-torrent operations for China would be that the allies might close the breach behind PLA sea and air forcespreventing them from returning home to refuel, resupply, and rearm. The prospect of seeing precious assets waste away could give China pause.

Or China could go big, trying to accomplish some of its cherished political aspirations that also carry immense military value. In particular, conquering Taiwan would solve a multitude of problems, including military problems. It would grant the PLA a position overshadowing the Luzon Strait, helping guarantee access to the Pacific for PLA Navy submarines and surface forces, and overshadowing the southern tip of the Ryukyu island chain to Taiwans north. Wresting the Senkaku Islands from Japan would be a distant next-best alternative for Beijing. Still, it would provide the PLA a foothold on the allied Great Wall, bestowing the military benefits of such a redoubt.

In any of these contingencies, on the other hand, the PLA would risk seeing soldiers stranded on Pacific isles should U.S. and allied forces reclaim command of the waters and skies along the first island chain. The specter of such a humiliating turn of events could deter Beijing from acting. It would call Xi Jinpings leadership into question in the court of public opinion, a dangerous thing for any authoritarian ruler. And it would call into question the PLAs image of competence, an image built up and carefully husbanded over the past quarter-century. Rank-and-file Chinese citizens might rally to the flag amid such a crisis; or they might turn against the Chinese Communist regime, potentially with fatal results for Xi & Co.

Attempting a breakout into the Western Pacific, then, promises China the greatest of rewards, but it could have mortal consequences should operations go badly. Its up to allied militaries to design forces, tactics, and operations to ensure that PLA operations would go badly, and to convince Beijing they would. The allies can start by exercising foresightand looking at the problem through Chinese eyes.

Therein lies wisdom.

A 1945 Contributing Editor, Dr. James Holmes holds the J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College and served on the faculty of the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. A former U.S. Navy surface warfare officer, he was the last gunnery officer in history to fire a battleships big guns in anger, during the first Gulf War in 1991. He earned the Naval War College Foundation Award in 1994, signifying the top graduate in his class. His books include Red Star over the Pacific, an Atlantic Monthly Best Book of 2010 and a fixture on the Navy Professional Reading List. General James Mattis deems him troublesome. The views voiced here are his alone.

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