A new report from the National Research Council urges U.S. naval forces to begin to strengthen capabilities in the Arctic, prepare for more frequent humanitarian missions, and analyze potential vulnerabilities of seaside bases and facilities. U.S. naval monitoring and action in the Arctic is of current importance due to melting ice and new shipping channels, while other elements are more long-term and ongoing.
“Although the future degree and magnitude of climate change on regional scales is uncertain, it’s clear that the potential for environmental disasters is on the rise due to the changing nature of the hydrologic cycle and sea level,” said Antonio J. Busalacchi, committee co-chair and director of the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. “Naval forces must be prepared to provide more aid and disaster relief in the decades ahead.”
As part of the report, the Navy is urged to increase analysis and monitoring, particularly for their estimated $100 billion of Navy installations at risk from sea-level rise of 1 meter or more. The Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard should work together to ensure that a coordinated analysis addresses vulnerabilities of shore-based facilities to the consequences of climate change.
