Climate change is upon us whether we try to deny it or not.

Coastal communities along P.E.I.'s North Shore need to prepare themselves for the impacts from climate change, a watershed management group was told Tuesday night.

Flooding from storm surges, a combination of high tides and water driven on shore by strong winds, was a major focus of the meeting.

"We're going to see bigger storm surges and they're going to occur more frequently," said Erin Taylor, climate change coordinator for the provincial Department of Environment.

Taylor said storm surges like the one the North Shore saw on Dec. 21, in the 3.6-metre range, currently come about once every 20 years. By the 2050s, they are expected to happen once every two years.

Storm surges the new normal, P.E.I. warned
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/03/16/pei-...

You may not be aware of this but PEI is sinking. It has to do with glacial periods, but safe to say, PEI is ever so slightly sinking. Add the effects of climate change, and the expected rise in sea level, we can all expect to have waterfront property soon.

Flooding from storm surges on the P.E.I. shoreline is going to become more common and get more expensive, says Jeff Ollerhead, dean of science at Mount Allison University.

Ollerhead told CBC News Friday the sea level around P.E.I. has been rising for centuries, but over the last few decades it has been going up more rapidly. He said the province can spend money on repairs, but the end result will always be the same.

Shoreline flooding will only get worse: scientist
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/01/17/pei-...

The recent storms have caused significant damage/changes to the north shore area. Many dunes have been eroded or blown away, while in other areas, new dunes have appeared. It is hard to tell at this time, but it is expected to affect piping plovers on the island.

Officials with the Island Nature Trust say recent storm surges on P.E.I. may have harmed — or helped — the endangered piping plover.

Jackie Waddell, executive director with the trust, said the organization is eager to see how the storm surges have changed beaches where the birds call home.

"We could have lots of new piping plover habitat. We could have some completely destroyed, so that the beach is narrower, there's no room for plovers to nest in front of the dunes," Waddell explained.

P.E.I. sand shift affects piping plovers
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/01/03/pei-...

Dovekies have been spotted all over the Island recently as a result of the high winds. They do not do well on land.

Once grounded, the birds become weak and can't fly.

The birds need help, said Dwaine Oakley an instructor in the wildlife conservation technology program at Holland College.

"Most times we only get to see them at a great distance, off of East Point while we're using our spotting scopes," said Oakley. "The strong winds are great for bringing the seabirds close to the shore … I've even had one call that someone said it showed up in their horse barn. Unfortunately, this one didn't make it."

Small seabirds victims of foul weather
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/12/24/pei-...

The small sea birds blown ashore on northern P.E.I. coastlines in wild wind storms just before Christmas have been identified.

Fish and wildlife section manager Gerald MacDougall says the birds as dovekies. They are black and white, smaller than crows, and resembled small penguins with wings.

MacDougall, who used to collect and release the birds when he was a conservation officer, said the recent storms have brought about the largest influx in numbers of dovekies to P.E.I. he seen in his time with fish and wildlife.

Unable to take off from land and only feeding on marine food, the dovekies need to be collected and released at sea in order to survive.

Wildlife official identifies mystery bird

We have had a very nice summer, warm and dry. Most people come to expect the summer weather to quickly fade after Old Home Week. But not this year, as we had a record setting temperature of 30 C in Charlottetown on Sept 1.

The global warming (climate change) skeptics are unusually quiet. I heard crickets...

Charlottetown has shattered its record high temperature for Sept. 1.

The warmest temperature recorded in the Prince Edward Island capital previously was 27.8 C. Wednesday the temperature reached 30 C in late afternoon.

CBC meteorologist Peter Coade said it's not surprising that P.E.I. is setting temperature records right now given that the province has been experiencing warmer than normal weather since the winter, part of a global trend.

"January to June has been the warmest six-month period on record on the planet Earth," Coade said. "So, I would have to say that this summer has to rank up there as the warmest June, July and August as well."

Charlottetown breaks temperature record
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/09/01/pei-charl...

January 30, 2008

Well, it's been an interesting 24-36 hours. We have had a prolonged period of freezing rain, freezing drizzle and and even freezing fog. All of which has caused major problems for Islanders, espically those in the western sections of the island. The power has been down for many people and it is heading into it's second day without power.

Here is some of the news stories covering this event:

Western schools cancel classes, wind warning in place for tonight
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=103281&sc=98

Cleanup now aided by choppers

January 30, 2008
The Guardian

Rising sea levels will have major impact on P.E.I., Ghiz tells leaders
Premier raises concerns at climate change meeting

Rising sea levels and storm surges will have a major impact on Prince Edward Island, Premier Robert Ghiz told Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders who were meeting in Vancouver Tuesday.

Ghiz raised concerns about the future of his island province as Canada’s political leaders discussed the impact of climate change.

January 12, 2008

Here is an interesting article from the Washington Post.

Data collected from around the globe indicate that 2007 ranks as the second-warmest year on record, according to a new analysis from climatologists at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

January 8, 2008

Ottawa must do further studies on how rising sea levels will affect P.E.I.: Downe
WAYNE THIBODEAU
The Guardian

A Prince Edward Island senator is urging Ottawa to do more research on the impacts of rising sea levels in Prince Edward Island.
Senator Percy Downe says the last study, entitled Coastal Impacts of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise on Prince Edward Island, was done in June 2001. That report indicated the province would be directly affected by flooding in Charlottetown and other areas of the Island.

I came across this video on Youtube that is very interesting. It talks about Global Climate Change, and trys to boil it all down to a simple point. Do we actively do something to prevent or prepare, or bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best. What is the most prudent choice ? Thats why it's called "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ

As an update to this video, the person who created it, made a follow up video, "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See.". How It All Ends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg