DATE: June 17, 2009
CONTACT: Dr. Nancy Gassman, Natural Resources Manager
Natural Resources Planning and Management Division
PHONE: 954-519-1295
EMAIL: ngassman@broward.org
The Broward County Climate Change Task Force will host a free public presentation by two guest speakers on Thursday, June 18, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Broward Government Center West, 1 N. University Drive in Plantation.
One guest speaker is S. Jeffress Williams, a senior research coastal marine geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey at Woods Hole Science Center in Massachusetts. His presentation will discuss global sea-level rise and its potential impact on erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion, wetland loss and threats to infrastructure. The other speaker will be Dr. John Van Leer from the University of Miami, who will discuss national and international efforts to mitigate climate change.
"The South Florida region is one of the most vulnerable coastal areas in the United States," said Broward County Commissioner Jacobs, who is Chair of the Climate Change Task Force. "We're already experiencing a rise in the sea level and must plan now for the potential impact that's expected in the future."
Williams will elaborate on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Report, including potential coastal hazards and disparity in public awareness of risks and vulnerabilities to accelerating sea level rise. His research focuses on the geologic history and processes of coastal, estuarine, wetland and inner continental shelf regions. One of his current projects focuses on assessing the risk and vulnerability of U.S. coastal regions to climate change and predicted sea-level rise and increased storm activity. He recently served as a lead author on the U.S. Climate Change Science Program's Report on "Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region" and has authored more than 300 research papers, reports and abstracts.
For a schedule of Task Force meetings, past meeting minutes and materials or for additional climate change information, visit www.broward.org/climatechange.
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